Strangers and Babies
I learn something new all the time as a parent. While pregnant it was that strangers felt like my belly was no longer my own personal space. I felt like I needed to walk around with a sign around my neck that read "off limits." The paradox continues with strangers and babies, well, I don't want to speak for all babies but I will speak for my own. It's shocking actually.
This past weekend we visited family in PA, as mentioned in my previous post, and while at the retirement ceremony and party I was stunned at the amount of people that I don't know who walked up to us with their arms outstretched AS IF I am going to hand them my child. We seriously warded off people repeatedly. We tried to be polite about it at first and casually pass of their advances but when the same person circles around like a vulture yet again for the 3rd time trying to get her paws on my baby it was a flat out, no confusion, not on your life. In fact, I proudly watched as my husband maneuvered his way through the crowds thwarting the attempts of the stranger snatchers. He was even more point blank about it then I was! I love it!
Am I just acting like a first time parent? Am I being paranoid? Are you crazy? I don't care if it's my first child or my fourth (it's a joke - not literal) it will never be okay. I may be a bit more disheveled and confused as to who has who at the time but I will never knowingly hand off my kids to someone I don't know.
And furthermore strangers, when approaching a baby do not grab their hands. You may gently touch the soft hair on his head, squeeze those irresistible cheeks, pat his leg or even his arm but those little hands go straight to his mouth and I certainly do not know you, where your hands have been or the last time they were washed. You can look at his hands (and are welcome to the toes!) but please step away from the temptation to touch them.
Stand down strangers and back away slowly.
This past weekend we visited family in PA, as mentioned in my previous post, and while at the retirement ceremony and party I was stunned at the amount of people that I don't know who walked up to us with their arms outstretched AS IF I am going to hand them my child. We seriously warded off people repeatedly. We tried to be polite about it at first and casually pass of their advances but when the same person circles around like a vulture yet again for the 3rd time trying to get her paws on my baby it was a flat out, no confusion, not on your life. In fact, I proudly watched as my husband maneuvered his way through the crowds thwarting the attempts of the stranger snatchers. He was even more point blank about it then I was! I love it!
Am I just acting like a first time parent? Am I being paranoid? Are you crazy? I don't care if it's my first child or my fourth (it's a joke - not literal) it will never be okay. I may be a bit more disheveled and confused as to who has who at the time but I will never knowingly hand off my kids to someone I don't know.
And furthermore strangers, when approaching a baby do not grab their hands. You may gently touch the soft hair on his head, squeeze those irresistible cheeks, pat his leg or even his arm but those little hands go straight to his mouth and I certainly do not know you, where your hands have been or the last time they were washed. You can look at his hands (and are welcome to the toes!) but please step away from the temptation to touch them.
Stand down strangers and back away slowly.
Comments
You make me laugh with your posts - you should be a writer!
I MISS YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!
He is absolutely adorable, though! I wouldn't mind squeezing those cheeks myself!