Mar 26 2013.
views 794(Lets face it kids are full of honesty, they say it as they see it. This is a new column written from the ‘HONEST’ observations from our children. It touches on all aspects of the process of growing up and how we as parents can improve ourselves from a child’s point of view).
Not sure if everyone is up to date about what happened to me last week. A quick recap. Mum dresses me up, straps me in the car and I think gleefully to myself ‘Yay, we off to Mattala, we’re flying to France. I love croissants’, but kill the violins, Mum drives up to a house, shouts manically ‘Yay, we’re in kotte’ then proceeds to extract Big Sister, I and our luggage from the car, hands us over to an elderly couple and drives off faster than Michal Schumacer at the Grand Prix.
Big Sister runs off playfully into the garden, while I take one look at the elderly couple and scream for our lives. Why has my precious Mother done this to us, she has given us away, have I been given up for foster care.
I’m just a little baby, this is traumatizing me, I can’t take the anxiety. Will scream for another half an hour. Whilst the elderly couple dance about, make funny faces, rattle pans…how scary is this. I scream louder. SOB SOB.
Just when I was thinking that even Big Sister had abandoned me, she makes an appearance and tells the elderly lady’ Achacha the baby might need his soother, that always calms him down always’.Ahh..my binky, something from home, makes me think of Mum and I cry once more. I’ve been crying for so long, I feel sleepy now, might take a nap, must just close my eyes it might have all been a bad dream.
The next time I open my eyes Mum’s jolly face appears again. It was a bad dream, but wait there’s the elderly couple again, jumping and shouting and making noises. What is wrong with these people. Though they do look a bit more relieved to see Mum than me. Mum had second thoughts okay, she’s not giving me up for adoption, she’s come to claim her child back, so just back off.
The elderly couple turned out to be Mum’s parents, they were babysitting Big Sister and me whilst Mum got her hair done. Well no one told me that, least they could do is to formally introduce us. Oh well, glad that’s over though let’s go home Mum, I forgot Teddy I don’t want to miss the new episode of Teletubbies, Kotte just ain’t doing it for me anymore.
Expert Advice – Toddler Stranger Anxiety
Stranger anxiety is not just reserved for babies. It’s a phenomenon in which toddlers, often between the ages of 12 and 24 months, view anyone other than their parents as a threat. Why does toddler stranger anxiety suddenly rears its ugly — and strange — head? Experts aren’t exactly sure.
And, adding to the mystery, some kids are gripped by it, while others never feel it at all. One thing experts do know: You didn’t do anything bad to make it happen. On the contrary, stranger anxiety is a natural and normal part of development — and it’s a sign that your child has a healthy bond to you.
Expert Advice – Soothers
Babies are born wanting to suck. Some even suck their thumb or fingers in the womb. This is a natural behavior that allows them to feed and grow. It’s also comforting and helps babies settle. If your baby seems to want to suck in between feedings, a pacifier can help. But it should never be used instead of feeding, and it should never be used without the extra comfort and cuddling a parent can provide.
Expert Advice – Comfort Toys
Comfort objects are sometimes called transitional objects, security objects, lovies, blankies or other made-up names. Usually babies between 9 and 12 months choose their comfort objects and once chosen, the object may be a part of the family for years to come.
A small child's attachment to his comfort object is healthy and can help maintain a feeling of security. The comfort object is actually an important social contact for your young child. He may also develop a strong attachment to a blanket, soft toy, or some other cuddly inanimate thing that he attaches some of the same feelings for as he would to an important person in his life.
By Mayuri Jayasinghe
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