The time I almost backhanded a child in Kmart
Husband, Babe and myself were recently strolling around Kmart; Husband pushing the trolley, myself navigating the babe in her pram.
My thoughts and shopping focus where thrown out the window with a shatter as a well meaning child, old enough to know better scared the poop out of me. With an excited squeal she bounced in front of our moving pram, bent down into Babes face, hands slapped to her knees and exclaimed “AWWW WHAT A CUTE BABY!!”.
Normally I’d thank someone for complementing my lovely babe, like heck I made and raised this little human, I’m proud. I was so caught off guard, I jumped, took a moment, and moved on.
Emotionally, my reaction was anger. Who the frip would think that that’s okay? Why would a parent let their child do that? Husband said to me that anger comes when our expectations aren’t met.
My expectation was that if a member of the public wants to talk to or interact with the babes, they would address me or her father first.
Okay, if we’re at play group and theirs a kid who wants to play with her, that’s fine. If you’re someone we know and trust and you see us out and about, you can pull a funny face for her amusement. But I didn’t know this kid or her family, we were not in a shared play environment and her actions made me want to snatch my babe away, hide her in a tower Rapunzel style.
Buuuuutttt... I don’t know this girls story, she was very heightened and excited. I’ve reminded myself that children don’t always understand our social expectations, and children aren’t always aware of the consequences of their actions. I’ve forgiven her in my heart, and I’m happy that she found joy seeing my babe for just a moment. My babe does spark joy!
To relieve anger, Husband tells me, we can adjust our expectations. True, but we can also rant about in on tumblr.
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