What Are You Talking About?

I don’t know what made me remember this the other day.  Maybe I’m still feeling a little nostalgic due to my son’s graduation, or maybe I was just bored, but this memory randomly popped into my head. 

When I had my son, I was lucky.  Both of his grandmothers were retired.  They not only had the time, but they also had the desire to help us out.  About a week after my son was born, my mother came from Connecticut and stayed with us for 3 months.  After her 3-month stint was over, my then mother-in-law flew in from Nigeria and stayed for us for the following 3 months.  They alternated 3 month stays for my son’s first year.  It was good for everyone involved.  Both grandmothers had bonding time with their grandson, and we could go to work knowing that our son was with someone who loved him.

But, we all knew that situation was not going to last forever.  We knew that at the end of his first year, we would need to find a babysitter.  Luckily for us, we found a good, kind, loving lady, within walking distance from our apartment who operated a small daycare in her family home.  We are still friends with her family today. 

The first day I dropped my son off at the babysitter’s, he didn’t cry. I was really surprised.  I thought that he would at least have separation anxiety.  But, ok.  Whatever.  I dropped him off and went to work.  I had asked my mother-in-law to stop by periodically throughout that first week to make sure the baby was fine.  She laughed when I asked.  Somehow, I don’t think she took my request seriously.  Thank goodness I was busy at work, so I didn’t have much time to worry about my son. 

When I went to pick my son up from the babysitter’s that first day, I took one look at him and laughed.  That little boy was sitting in the highchair with his head in his hand.  He had a confused expression on his face that seemed to say, “Why am I here? “  After talking with the babysitter, I took my son home, and put him in his crib so I could change my clothes.   While I was changing, that little boy stood up, looked at me, and then proceeded to give me a lecture for a good 15 minutes!  For the life of me, I don’t know what he was saying, but whatever it was, I could tell from the expression on his face that it was serious.  To this day, I wish I had a baby talk translator to translate for me what he said. 

New parents, you won’t know what your baby is babbling about, but believe you me, what they are saying is serious to them.  Make sure you respond to them and encourage the conversations.  I used to talk to both of my kids all the time and I responded to their babbling.  To this day, my kids and I still talk.  I believe that those early baby talks helped to strengthen our bond.  Hopefully, those talks will help strengthen your bond too. 

So, now you know, and you can … Consider Yourself Warned!
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If you have kids, did you spend time talking to them?