We were out and about this morning, running errands and so we stopped for lunch at the Johnny Rockets at the mall. It’s a 50s themed burger joint, with jukeboxes at the tables and classic rock music. At one point the kitchen staff stopped and danced to ‘Respect’. Bella spent much of the time staring stony-faced at the friendly family in the next booth who were smiling and making faces at her.
As she was dropping off our bill, the waitress remarked on how quiet Bella had been. Not a peep through the whole meal. I’ve noticed this before, but never so markedly. She’s always very quiet, almost silent when we’re in public, her big eyes taking everything in. Her chatterbox self only really comes out at home. As she wanders around the living room, exploring and playing, she keeps up a fairly steady stream of babble, with giggles, raspberries, clicks and hisses for flavor.
I’m curious to see what happens when she’s actually talking.
Hi Melanie – thanks for the link.
I would really recommend reading the Neufeld book, if you get a chance. I found it to be, literally, life-changing—- it explains a lot of what I saw growing up as well as having plenty of helpful advice for raising my own kids.
I have often thought that the problem with AP is that it’s a set of techniques unmoored from any overarching philosophy. I do believe most of the AP practices are good (exception: time outs for discipline). And I do believe the first two means of attachment are important, and some kids probably desperately need them. But you’ve got to move beyond them.
No single parenting practice is a panacea.
I added another comment here, on the same topic, in case you’re interested in checking it out.