The other day I remembered a usual and casual evening i spent with my friend and her toddler when i was pregnant with Georgie. We were at a restaurant and the little one would not sit still! Nothing unusual there, right? But then he started playing with the napkins, a spoon, the ketchup bottle eventually throwing everything on the floor resulting in a lot of noise. My friend continued our conversation only stopping to replace everything back on the table. I couldn’t help but notice…and judge her. My child, i said to myself, will never be like that. Fast forward a year and a few months later and i’m handing him spoons, ketchup bottles, water bottles and napkin holders to play with…while i continue my conversation with my friends.
As Georgie progresses into toddlerhood I am learning not to judge other mothers. When I see a child crying and screaming in front of the sweet stand, stamping his feet while his mother carries on shopping, I don’t think what i would’ve had I no child. I understand. I always hope Georgie won’t do it when the time comes but if he does, I won’t worry about it. I am doing all sorts of things i never thought I would do. Like allowing him sweets, occasionally. Stuffing a dummy in his mouth, when he wants it. And letting him cry when all he wants to do is sulk and be carried. And letting him play in the mud and scream at the top of his lungs in the middle of a restaurant. These things just don’t raise an eyebrow with me anymore. If other people don’t like it then tough! But I bet you anything, they don’t have kids…at least I hope not!
