Wow, this lil rant is oh so necessary!
I would love for someone to justify to me, why you would give a baby a knife to play with?????!!!!
OK, let me explain the scenario – yesterday, we decided to go to Nandos… we were just finishing up and a family of 4, occupied the table behind us.
The family comprised of mom, dad, big brother and baby brother (presumably).
As you may or may not know, once you have ordered your food at the counter @ Nandos, you then take a seat and wait for your food to be brought to you at your table.
Well this particular family were waiting for their food when the baby (who was initially in the child seat), decided sitting in the seat was far to boring and in fact, wanted to be on the table…that’s right – on the table!!!! Mom put the baby on the table!
Naturally, being on the table wasn’t enough for the baby who then decided he wanted to play with the salt and pepper shakers!
Mom and Dad were looking in the opposite direction to the baby, almost in an attempt to pretend to ignore his embarrassing antics.
Eventually, the salt and pepper shakers got boring so he flung them on the floor!
Mom and Dad still acted like nothing was going on whilst big brother scrambled on the floor picking them up.
Meanwhile, baby has decided to fart around with the paper napkins and is throwing them all over the place, ripping them, chewing them – you name it, he was doing it…again Mom and Dad did not respond.
It was only when baby decided to pick up one of the plates (you know the bright ones you pick up with your knives and forks)???
Baby was banging this plate around for sometime before Mom (who actually had her hand behind him all this time), decided to react.
After a ‘mini’ struggle, she finally got the plate off him and as a result, he went into O.V.E.R.D.R.I.V.E!!!
Lemme tell you, the child freeeeeeeaked started banging the other plates around and just acting really bizarre, spoilt and just ….well…. different!
Whilst baby had his moment, Mom and Dad pretended that they weren’t with
the child yet again =(
After maybe, 3 minutes of constant banging, wailing, whinging and screeching all mixed up, he became fascinated with the cutlery on the table.
Firstly he picked up the knife… my instinct was to say something but when I noticed the elder boy telling his parents, I decided not to (keep me nose out).
They took one look at the baby and turned away…why??? Because he was actually quiet!
He put the knife down after inspecting it then he picked up the fork. He started inspecting that
then picked the knife up again.
He continued to play with both of them – dangerously might I add – bare in mind this was a baby like no older than 1!
Then, to my horror – he flung the fork, just missed someone behind and continued to play with the knife making stabbing gestures and waving it around.
As you can probably imagine, my jaw was on the floor!!!!!
The thing that made it so bad was, the parents just didn’t business – they were more interested in him keeping quiet.
The baby clearly ruled them.
It was sad and disturbing,
A one year old knife wielding maniac – well…..what next!!!!!!
I just don’t get it!!!
Phew!!!! Rant over….tee hee
2 comments:
bang out of order!
It does dangerous and from what you describe, yes the parents should have been more involved. Trying to give the parents the benefit of the doubt, maybe there is something wrong with the baby, maybe is has some sort of problem that causes that sort of behaviour, as it does sound quite extreme? On the surface the parents certainly should have been doing more to help calm the baby, but then maybe they just don't have clue how to deal with that type of behaviour? Parents are not born good parents, there is no instruction manual. Sure there are loads of books, though in many ways contradict each other. It is a process of learning and it seems they got it not too wrong with the older brother, from your description of him? Maybe they need some real help from someone who they can relate with, to help them learn the different skills needed for this child. What works with one child, does not always work with another.
I suppose, having just read this comment through, this might seem like I'm having a rant at you :) But this is not meant that way, just that there are always two, if not more, perspectives on any situation.
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