Not Just A Blob

I remember reading an article about a celebrity (don't recall which) talking about motherhood in which she described her child as a "Blob." While she may have been referring to her baby as a newborn, I think she is still wrong. Babies, regardless of age, are not "Blobs." Before having my own child, I had the opportunity to be around my nieces and nephew. I have been able to see them grow and develop from brand new babies to the bouncing, active children they are today. While they may not have done much on their own as babies, they were still learning and developing, and much of that came from observing.

Once when Chris and I were in a tickle "fight" our little baby started crying. We stopped tickling each other and started ostentatiously hugging and playfully kissing one another, and she began to smile and then laugh. This has happened a few times since, with Addie becoming distressed each time. On the other hand, we definitely don't hide our affection for each other from her, and she never tires of watching it, and smiling and laughing at us.

Hopefully you can see where I am going with this... I think children, and especially babies, are much more perceptive than we give them credit for or realize. If tickling each other can upset our baby, how does our interaction with those around us affect these sensitive little ones? I am realizing that this has implications for many of my own behaviors that transcends more than just my basic physical and verbal communication.