Baby mindfulness
Mr P is now 13 months old.
He loves lids right now. Taking a lid and putting it onto something else, or onto a container, and then removing it again. Over and over.
He likes to see what the lid will fit. Like his milk bottle lid. Will it fit onto his boat toy? What about the tap? Maybe the soap bottle? All must be tested.
When we go out, he loves seeing birds. He’ll squeal with joy and point at a bird, and try to chase them around at his toddle pace.
He’s added a new word too - ‘this’ - he will point and something and say ‘this, this’ if he wants it. I think because I spend a lot of time trying to work out what he’s pointing at, and asking ‘this?’.
His ‘hello’ is very strong now, and ‘bab-eye’. He’s very popular with … everyone. When we go out for lunch he’s often given his own little plate of food for free by the adoring wait staff.
If he likes the food, he’ll want to share with me by putting it in my mouth with a big smile on his face. If I’m lucky he’ll do that before chewing it 😅
Yesterday he played in one of those coin operated kids car rides you see at shops. It was fascinating to watch him explore it.
It made me realise how much we adults filter out in our day to day lives. Mr P has no such filter yet and everything is novel to him.
In the car, everything was inspected and tested. Every button is pushed, every wheel turned, pushed, and pulled. Will it turn like other wheels? We don’t know.
Every bolt is pressed. Maybe it’s a button? The paint is rubbed, is it smooth or rough? We hit the seat with our hand. Is it solid or hollow? What noise does it make?
He spent 15 minutes exploring every inch of the car, and then he was out and off to chase a pigeon.
As adults we are told to practice mindfulness.
I have used it many times to get my mind out of the future, where I spent so much energy worrying and problem solving for things that haven’t happened yet.
Next time I’m stressed I’ll try to live how Mr P does and see everything around me anew.