My pregnancy is on my mind a lot these days, so I am starting a new series on this blog. Since many of these posts may be off the main topic of the blog, I will call them TMI Tuesdays - feel free to skip these series entirely if it is not your cup of tea :)
. . .
'Tis the season to be jolly, so we had a work party to which everyone was encouraged to bring their families.
There was a surprising number of small children at the party; I overheard one of the parents explaining to a non-parent that in the years prior these kids would have not come because they were too young, and that some of the "usual" little attendees are now too "old" to join their parents.
The party was going well, the adults were socializing, and the little attendees were entertaining themselves. At some point, I sat down in a chair, and was suddenly swarmed by the toddlers.
A 4-year old boy crawled into my lap. He inspected my belly and asked, "Is there a baby in your belly?"
"Yes, there is!" I answered. He looked around a little more and moved on.
A 4-year-old girl stepped closer. "Really? A baby in the belly?" She proceeded to feel my belly. "Why is your belly not squishy?" she asked.
"Because there is a baby in there," I explained. She continued to feel my belly.
"Is the baby crying?" she asked. "No, the baby is sleeping right now, so be gentle."
Now a few 3-year-olds joined her efforts, so suddenly I had a half-dozen little hands poking and prodding at my belly. It was cute and funny; I was glad that the kids were so small that I didn't have to worry about them being too forceful.
"My sister and I were in Mommy's belly at the same time," confided the 4-year-old boy, who has a twin sister.
The feeling of the belly continued until I sneakily took it away by getting up from the chair. I think the toddlers could have continued playing with "the baby" for awhile; their interest was not dwindling.
What is it that fascinates the toddlers with the babies and baby bumps?
The perverse incentives of academia
6 years ago
6 comments:
Funny story! It sounds like a really cute scene.
I can kinda relate to the kids. I think baby bumps are pretty fascinating too, but I have enough sense not to prod a woman's belly (without asking).
Funny! Similar thing happened to me at a new years party - and one of the little girls said as she was leaving "Goodbye! I love the baby in your belly!"
CUTE!
I got to feel my friend's baby moving around in her belly this year - it was so damn cool! I'd always wanted to feel that, but didn't have anyone close enough that I could really ask until this year. I love that kids just go ahead and do it anyway, and screw asking for permission!
And I love how little kids are so fascinated by babies (although another friend, who just had baby #3, says that the middle child gets bored with the new addition after about 2 minutes. "He doesn't do anything!", he complains!)
The little ones around here (male and female) would screech 'BAAAABY!' every time I walked by with the Pumpkin. I think it's something about how babies are just like them, but smaller and toy-sized. Too fascinating.
Cute! Maybe my mothering instinct hasn't abandoned me after all.
EFG - it is funny how 4-year-olds get away with things us adults can't ;)
DBD - I was suspecting I wasn't the only one with similar experiences; kids can be so cute!
Cath - it would be odd to have total strangers touch my belly, but if a friend asked I definitely wouldn't mind. And I am sure your friend's middle child will find his sibling more entertaining soon :)
Jenny - maybe that's it? They all seem to understand that they, too, were tiny babies at some point.
UR - you better let me watch if that comment develops into something else over the years ;)
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