Here at Dadwagon, we’re not real big on writing about the cute things our kids do. No, we’re much more concerned with bibby-banging, kvetching, decoding Dan Zanes lyrics and pissing off parent coaches. But since Chris has decided to jettison tradition and offer you, our dear readers, some actually useful advice, I figured I’d break another taboo and tell you about this morning.
Sasha is a little over a year old now, and is just starting to develop some fine motor control. So, whenever we feed her, we give her her own spoon, which she generally just mashes into her bowl of rice and vegetables and whatever leftovers Jean and I didn’t want to finish ourselves. Occasionally, she makes a motion like she’s pretending to eat.
But this morning—wonder of wonders!—she actually, with a little difficulty and only intermittent success, started scooping milk-soaked Cheerios out of the bowl and into her mouth. Yay!
That’s not the cute part, however.
The cute part is what she did when she got tired of eating. She took the spoon, turned it around, and put the handle in her mouth, with the other end sticking straight at me. And then she grinned, one of those grins that makes her eyes go all crinkly. “My heart melted.” (Sorry, I can’t say that, even though I kind of mean it, without ironic quotation marks or the phrase “kind of” or the ridiculous link.)
But then my heart froze. This could be a problem, I realized: The baby knows she’s cute! At the tender age of 1 year and a few weeks, she’s already figured out that she can get away with not eating (and who knows what other misbehaviors?) simply by mugging for Daddy. Is this a warning? Or a sign that, as long as she stays adorable (or attractive), she’ll go far in this world? Should I be happy or worried?
I don’t know. All I know is it was damn cute.
But no, I ain’t gonna post a photo of her. Not unless she asks me to.
“But then my heart froze. This could be a problem, I realized: The baby knows she’s cute! At the tender age of 1 year and a few weeks, she’s already figured out that she can get away with not eating (and who knows what other misbehaviors?) simply by mugging for Daddy. Is this a warning? Or a sign that, as long as she stays adorable (or attractive), she’ll go far in this world? She I be happy or worried?”
Dude, you must chill.
Correctamundo.
Well, yeah, you should chill, but it’s an interesting topic to ponder. My friend Hugo did a stunning piece on a similar topic that may reassure you.
Very interesting piece, Paula. Thanks for sending it our way — particularly because I hadn’t really considered the gender aspect at all. Frankly, I’m not worried so much about the daddy-daughter dynamic here: I don’t get those “wrapped around her little finger” remarks, and I’m already the one who’s telling her no.
What I worry about is other people. The kid is cute, and looks unusual (sort of), and I just have this feeling that she’s going to get attention, both good and bad, from boys and girls and men and women, throughout her life. Maybe this will let her get her way whenever she wants. But I want her to grow up understanding that it’s a power she has to use wisely.
Yes, good point. The fact that you’re even aware of this bodes well for her being aware of it, too. Good parenting.