And another thing.
After the meeting, the mother of the most talkative girl came up to me and kind of smilingly half-apologized for how talkative her daughter was. The mother of the least talkative did the same, for her daughter being so quiet. But both of their daughters were charming and well-behaved.
I’ve been guilty of this too. When my daughter goes around to everybody in the yarn shop and introduces herself and asks what folks’ names are, I’m going to stop with the slightly nervous laughter. She knows not to bother someone when they’re on the phone, and I’m working on teaching her to not bother them in the middle of transactions or conversations, although that’s trickier to figure out. So I’ll keep working with her on that. But overall, she’s fine, and I need to lighten up.
So I’ve resolved to stop being so self-conscious about how my child behaves in public. Apparently it’s like our own bodies, or accents, or anything else we have that’s slightly out of the norm. We’re hyper-sensitive, but nobody else cares, so we all might as well lighten up.
Personally, the only that bothers — well, two things — that bother me about a child introducing herself and asking my name in a shop is 1) will her mother think I’m trying to steal her, and 2) does she know what to do if someone DOES try to steal her. Otherwise, I find children enchanting! …as long as I don’t have to take them home with me. ::grin::
Personally, the only that bothers — well, two things — that bother me about a child introducing herself and asking my name in a shop is 1) will her mother think I’m trying to steal her, and 2) does she know what to do if someone DOES try to steal her. Otherwise, I find children enchanting! …as long as I don’t have to take them home with me. ::grin::
What scaredkat said! If a cute little girl comes up to me and is all friendly and curious, I would be going “Awwww, want to give cuddles!”
Definitely not the reaction I would have, say…, to a middle-aged, balding woman with bad teeth!
Being friendly is rarely an issue. It’s if she starts pushing over furniture and kicking people, then…yeah, you may want to get to the apologies quick. 🙂
What scaredkat said! If a cute little girl comes up to me and is all friendly and curious, I would be going “Awwww, want to give cuddles!”
Definitely not the reaction I would have, say…, to a middle-aged, balding woman with bad teeth!
Being friendly is rarely an issue. It’s if she starts pushing over furniture and kicking people, then…yeah, you may want to get to the apologies quick. 🙂