Moms--What would you do if I did to your daughter what I did to this little girl today? (And a sincere question)
By The Horse
@TheHorse (218827)
Walnut Creek, California
April 18, 2018 8:16pm CST
In Northern California, people generally ignore those around them. But that's not the case with the littlies, who have not yet been socialized to be un-curious.
About an hour ago as I stood in line at Kaiser to pick up my Thorazine, Lithium, and Wellbutrin, I spied a girl of maybe 10-months of age in a baby stroller. Her mom and big sister were with her.
The baby girl was oriented such that she could see me, but her head was at an angle, relative to mine. Of course, she looked directly at me, curiosity in her eyes.
I oriented my head such that our eyes were parallel. She began to smile but didn't quite. I stuck my tongue out at her, and then pretended to be sucking on something. She smiled big time.
I continued to do this, and she finally laughed out loud. Neither her mom or her sister looked up.
I tried peek-a-boo, but the baby girl gave me a look that said "That's so Jean Piaget. Get real." So I went back to the tongue and the sucking and she laughed out loud again.
Then my name was called.
As I was picking up my meds, I head the baby girl saying "Da da da!" I wondered briefly if she had a dad who played the same visual games with her.
Moms, what would you do if a strange (as in a stranger) but respectable-looking man in a baseball cap started "flirting" with your infant daughter? Would you say, "Looks like someone has a young daughter!"? Would you say, "Get away from my child!"? Would you ignore the person?
My sincere question: How old would you guess this baby was? I saw four lower teeth when she smiled. I never saw her upper teeth. She said "Da da da," but no words beyond that. The presence of teeth, and the presence of babbling with meaning, but no longer words, is what made me guesstimate her age at 10- or 11-months.
For the record, her mom appeared to be Mexican-American, as did her sister. But the baby looked to be a tad Asian, like my (Mexican-American) baby friend from my previous job, who was probably just short of two when I snapped the picture I'll use.
28 people like this
26 responses
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
19 Apr 18
I often find small children in strollers or backpacks staring (maybe it's my bald head) and often make faces to make them smile. This is usually from across a room or a checkout stand. I would hesitate to get any closer than the chance encounter.
I am not a good judge of small kids ages though.
6 people like this
@TheHorse (218827)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 18
It makes something fun that might have been boring. Had the mom looked at me I might have said, "I think we are having a conversation." Have she seemed concerned, I probably would have thown out a "I actually tell my classses at DVC about his. If you do funny mouth stuff around a baby, they'll be interested and often smile." Her natural response would be "Oh, you teach at DVC?" and the conversation would go on from there. I would no longer be a "threat."
3 people like this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
19 Apr 18
I probably would have smiled at you and maybe spoken, but kept a certain distance just because it seems like there are so many wierd people any more.
I tend to make faces at babies and toddlers, too, just to see if they will smile. I am female, so Moms usually ignore me.
5 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
19 Apr 18
I probably would have engaged you in conversation....I tend to strike up conversations with strangers.
5 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
21 Apr 18
@TheHorse I'm sure there are people who think I'm strange...but I'm okay with that.
@Shiva49 (26681)
• Singapore
19 Apr 18
I am drawn to babies like a magnet and I forget myself at times.
I used to carry them around years ago but now times have changed and people are no more trusting.
Some babies in prams turn back to look at me if I acknowledge them.
I tell myself it should be due to some past connection.
We were touched when others showered attention on our son when he was little.
I feel sad when parents seem to be preoccupied with gadgets to the extent of ignoring their children.
Babies mean love and they reciprocate to our attention with interest - siva
4 people like this
@vandana7 (100282)
• India
21 Apr 18
@LilyBeBack I adore little children till around six or seven. I can do other things later. LOL
3 people like this
@LilyBeBack (1994)
• United Kingdom
20 Apr 18
I used to think it was terrible when I saw a parent using their phone instead of talking to their child, then I had my son and I realise that a parent is lucky to get one moment in the day to do necessary things such as sending emails, etc. I'm on my own with my son and I don't have broadband, and little to no mobile reception in my house, so the only chance I have to do things like that is when I'm out of the house and my son's preoccupied with something else.
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (26681)
• Singapore
20 Apr 18
@LilyBeBack I understand. Anyway, you take good care of your son and have a valid reason to do your own thing. I was highlighting some who overindulge in their gadgets to the extent of being oblivious to their wards -siva
4 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47308)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
19 Apr 18
You take Thorazine, Lithium, and Wellbutrin and still manage to hold down a job? Wow!
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
19 Apr 18
My husband likes to interact with all small children, since we don't have any little people anymore. He loves kids. I sometimes worry in this day and age what people will think of that. It doesn't worry me when it's the child of a friend or acquaintance in a place like a home or at church, but I'm not sure it's wise for him to do that with children who don't know him. One has to practically walk on eggshells these days -- especially men!
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
20 Apr 18
@TheHorse It's a shame people are getting afraid to express affection to others now -- especially since it's been proved that touch is affirming and healing when the motivation is right. And people can tell if a hug is not right. I guess it's better to ask rather than assume these days.
1 person likes this
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
19 Apr 18
It's one of the sad facts of modern life that a lone gentleman is often seen as a threat to children.
I once discovered a lost little girl about 4 years of age walking out of a shop in a shopping precinct. I'm ashamed to say I actually hesitated before going to speak to her. Even after i did establish she was lost the first thing i did was ask a passing woman to stand with her while I went to get one of the precinct staff. There was no way I was going to walk off with her to find someone who could help!!
2 people like this
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
20 Apr 18
@thehousewife Ta very much m'lady!!
I think anyone who has been in your situation would do their utmost to re-unite a lost child with their family. It's just, as a man these days, you really do have to be very careful.
I remember an old man who lived at the bottom of my street when i was a kid. He used to always watch us playing football in the street and would chat to us about football and he'd bring us cold drinks out from his house on hot days. Basically he was just a harmless, lonely old man. He'd probably be branded a pervert and a paedophile these days.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218827)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Apr 18
@Morleyhunt Has it been written? I'll Czech.
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
19 Apr 18
Thank you! You have just inspired my next post.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218827)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Sep 18
@caopaopao God or nature "designed" babies to be cute, so they'd get the attention they need.
@Tina30219 (81925)
• Onaway, Michigan
19 Apr 18
As long as I was with her I would not care. But when my daughter was little we was going for a walk she was in her stroller and see was waving at something I didn’t know it until I heard a horn I looked up and there was a fire truck waving and pointing at her.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (81925)
• Onaway, Michigan
19 Apr 18
@TheHorse No she wasn’t even One.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218827)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 18
@Tina30219 Oh! Maybe the firemen were waving at you!
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
19 Apr 18
That is so cute. I do that too so I wouldnt mind. As long as no one is hurting my baby, that is. Hehehe
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218827)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Apr 18
@mlgen1037 I love it when I see that.
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@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
19 Apr 18
@TheHorse Yes, they do. And you see the babies talking to each other. Really cute. 
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@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
19 Apr 18
I always watched my babies intently when a stranger approached them or was communicating with them. (This was well before the advent of cell phones and androids) I never minded this. It always seemed innocent.
1 person likes this
@LilyBeBack (1994)
• United Kingdom
20 Apr 18
@TheHorse I'd pretend I was in a rush to get to an appointment
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218827)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Apr 18
@LilyBeBack This woman was trapped, waiting for her meds, though.
2 people like this
@Chazzygal (452)
• Botswana
19 Apr 18
i see no problem with that i mean its not like you were too close to the child or went to the child so i see no harm in that. i wouldn't also call it flirting, to play with an 11 month old baby from a distance unless this continued and you came closer, i mean one can never be too sure.
1 person likes this
