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PLEASE, I'm begging you....
- Nov 12, 2009 at 8:52 AM
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- Comments (8) Total Views (179) Everyone can see this journal post.
I have a 17 month old little girl named Olivia.
She is becoming quite chatty and giggly. Lately, she likes to "answer the phone" and say 'bye bye?' whenever there is a jingle of keys.
Olivia is also very friendly and has, consequently - never met anyone she didn't like. She squeals and "sings". Basically, she's a toddler. Very sweet, very mild tempered. I worry sometimes that she's too friendly but... that's for another day.
So anyway... Olivia LOVES going to the store. The park... the pool. You name it. She loves to see new faces and is very curious about different people. She talks to everyone.
I have only one problem with this.
When we're out and about... if a baby/toddler happens to wave or smile or say hi - I tend to at least LOOK at them. I feel that just because they are "little" people, doesn't mean that they deserve less respect than "big" people.
So here's my complaint.
Yesterday we went to the BX. Olivia was sitting in the cart, holding a sippy cup... sort of half "talking" to me and singing to herself. Occasionally she'd exclaim 'DADA!', after which I would have to explain that 'No baby, DADA is at work'. She thinks everyone in uniform is dada... even women. lol.
I'm looking at medicine on the shelf for a sinus infection when I hear her cheerily squeal "HI!". I throw a quick glance over my shoulder to ensure her safety and continue reading. Again. "HI!". I smile to myself as I decide against the generic for Tylenol sinus and begin to read the box for REAL Tylenol Sinus. Again. "HI!" ok.... so I turn around. Olivia is fine. There is only one other person in the aisle. A man.
I smiled at her and she gave me a big grin. I turned around to see about some cough drops and I hear her again. "HI!" "HI!" "HIIIIIII!!!!!!" In rapid succession.
I spin around. She's talking to this man. She's clearly saying hello to him, and clearly - he is ignoring her. How RUDE.
Now, some of you will think I am overreacting. Some will think it's no big deal... but to me, it IS a big deal. I already stated why I feel that way but there's one more reason.
THE NOISE.
I love Olivia's cute little voice. I think it's lovely. At the same time... I have to listen to it ALL DAY.
So please, next time you're in public and a toddler greets you - Say hi back. That's really all it takes.I promise. It will make them smile and giggle. It will keep other customers from being irritated with [possibly both of] us.
It will also significantly reduce the bleeding a Mom experiences coming from her ears everyday.
Thanks. From both of us.
Comments:
lol. i hear ya. sometimes i think that someone really could just walk off with her and she'd never think a thing of it.
oh! someone who wants to hold me, love me... what? sure! a french fry? why not!
lol.
seriously though, it's so scary.
i have the opposite problem. My daughter doesn't speak to anyone up close. She shies away and even begins to cry sometimes.
My older son used to be very bubbly and say hi to everyone.. it's annoyin when adults ignore kids but some adults don't feel comfortable around kids or like them even enough to say hi.
one day when my son(now 20) at 2 kept saying hi to a boy and he wouldn't respond back and his mother came by him snatched and said.. move away from him(my son) before he goes up your nose. i wanted to slap the ugly off of her.. i was pregnant too at the time and my hormones were raging.. if it weren't for my doctor calling me, i think i woudl have slapped her.
oh by the way.. when my daughter is out and about.. she is quiet as a mouse.. but when she is in the house.. boyyyyyyyyy do i wish i could just muzzle her up. LOLOLOL.. my ears bleed too so does my brain. LO
I am totally guilty of talking to cute babies. I can't help it. I love them. My sons are no longer babies and while they'll always be the most handsome little dudes I know....they are now big boys and are old enough to have their own interests.
I was at Walmart the other day and this little girl (about 18 months I think) was just sitting there with the most beautiful smile and beaming it right at me. I guess she just thought I looked like someone who appreciate her smile...I did talk to her. For about 5 minutes. Thankfully, I live in the South where it's "normal" to talk to strangers. I mean...what's a stranger but a friend we haven't met right?
I gotta say... I agree with you on a certain level..if a kid smiles at me of course I smile back, or wave, and I do my best to me friendly. But I am with my OWN children 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On the rare occasion I get out of the house.. I tend to ignore anything under the age of 18. Not because I'm mean.. or because I dont love kids.. but because its my sanity at stake.
AND.. some men are weird about talking to kids because it can be perceived wrong. Just last week there was a debate on here about whether its OK for your child to sit on a mans lap who is not their father, and people got ANGRY.. downright nasty about it.. and the majority said a strange man should never even talk to your child. Well.. maybe this guy feels the same way.
Sorry but I do think you're overreacting a bit.. and I dont think its rude either. My DH doesnt talk to anyone, lol.. but he loves kids. He just respects other parents and doesnt engage their children. He has his own to worry about
So interesting to see all the different responses on here...but I hear you OP! I think ALL mom's of little one's can relate to this! I wish people had memory furher back so they could remeber being a lil one who just explores the world from their innocent perspective. I really think the world would be a better place. All I can say is that I think I would take the passive aggressive mom option on this one and say really loudly to my baby, "The man hears you honey but he does not want to talk to you so just talk to mommy instead! Hi baby! etc etc" In the most annoying sign song mommy voice I could muster! Or depending on my current mood it might be a little nastier than "he doesn't want to talk to you," but you get the idea!
I agree with LuminousMom. My husband also does not talk to strangers' children because we teach our own children not to talk to strangers unless WE say it is okay. Perhaps this gentleman was not being rude, but instead trying to respect the "don't talk to strangers" rule.
I always speak to babies and toddlers when I see them--I agree, they deserve respect too--and anway--they are so darn cute--how could you not speak to them?!!!
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Awww! My younger DS is (and always was SO FRIENDLY too, that he'd say hi to even THE SCARIEST looking people!) And I kept trying to distract him from talking to EVERYONE!!! Kids, fine... But every person he sees.... it started to really scare me! And would always creep me out when some people would just keep talking to him... and talking! (Like, leave my baby alone already!!! Who are you.... Sometimes I almost wanted to yell, STRANGER!!! STRANGER!!!! ) lol!!!! But maybe this person was thinking of the rule "never talk to strangers?" Though, a simple "Hi" wouldn't hurt anyone either!!! Its not like you were asking him to babysit! (Scary!)
- bupkie
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