Maybe it is just because soon I will be an auntie and because one of my best friends just had a baby, but everywhere I go now, I see babies, and lots of them everywhere. Its like my eyes are on baby mode and every possible baby within 100 yards I see. Baby vision... until comig to Santiago I have never ever been anywhere where I constantly see babies. I find it odd that here also the mothers bring their babies out and a about almost immediately after popping them out. Personally if I had a baby, I am pretty sure I would stay in the house as much as possible, and would only go out with the baby to visit. I would never bring my 3 or 4 day old baby to the mall. Never! Here I have seen everything!! Well maybe not everything, but I have seen a lot. I have seen a couple walking into the mall, the dad holding the baby, and the diaper bag and the mother waddling in like she was still prego. It pained me to watch her actually, it looked as though she was super tired and that walking around was killing her. I have seen new couples sitting on benches in the mall trying to get the kid to latch on. I have seen babies that are maybe a month old riding around in one of them mall strollers. For one the stroller was way to big and second they didn't roll up a blanket or anything to support the baby so it was kind of just sitting there all slumped over and when they turned, the baby would slump to the other side. I have seen the mom hand over the baby to the dad and he just stood there like he was concentrating on not dropping the thing. He wasn't even able to walk with the baby in his arms. I have seen breastfeeding everywhere, everywhere, collectivos, buses, benches, in the metro, everywhere! I have seen mothers feed their babies chocolate milk and strawberry milk even before the kid can walk. It might not be bad, but to me I just think of the added sugar in the milk and how had it would be for a baby tummy to digest it! I have seen, in the winter, babies so bundled up that all you see is their eyes and a small part of their chubby cheeks and those cheeks were bright red, like the kid was way too hot!
Now after I have seen all these things, they may or may not be normal, but I would never ever do any of those things. And, this worries me. When I actually do have kids will people around think I am neglecting my kid if I have it lightly dressed to fit the weather? Will it be a serious problem if I don't get my daughter/s ears pierced before they are even a month old?? Will people think I am crazy if I make RO go do the grocery shopping by himself until the baby is at least a month old?? I just don't think people here will be able to swallow the way I would raise a kid.
Now on to the topic of being an auntie!!! Can't wait!!
2 weeks or so left and my sister will have her first baby, a little girl. And where will I be?? Not close enough to go visit her in the hospital...not even close enough to visit her the next day. I will be here. I think that adding to the fact that depression season is right around the corner this will just add to it! The kid will obviously be spoiled by Ro and I. I will be the godmother so of course I will have to buy it lots of unnecessary things...DUH!! I have already made her a blanket, did I mention I can crochet?? Well I can. I made the blanket last year in November or so and my skills have greatly improved since then, so I will probably be making a new one that is fancier. You can never have too many baby blankets! And I am on the lookout for one of those little sweaters you can buy here with the little animals on them. I have seen a few, but all the ones I have seen are for a kid of at least 3 years. Oh well, its not like I don't have time.... But anyways, I am excited, I can't wait for the call to my cell phone! I can't wait to ask 10 fingers, 10 toes?? But mostly I can't wait to see and hold this little bundle of joy! I am very excited that I will have 3 months with her before I come back here. Very very excited!! Alright, enough about babies and my excitement! Back to work!
2 comments:
Hi! We went to Stgo,Chile last March for the first time, and I was amazed by some of the baby sights too.
Compared to the US, some of it was great, like seeing people actually holding babies in their arms or in carriers/slings instead of lugging a carseat everywhere and propping baby around like furniture ( typical here in US). Or pushing a 10 lb baby in an enormous stroller. I loved seeing the public breastfeeding, here people are so nervous about doing it in public at times that they don't nurse very long & nursing should just be normal life. I was also still nursing my baby when we were there so it was nice to feel free about it ( although nothing shows when I do it)
I asked our Chilean friend about why nobody cared about the nursing everywhere when in the States some people (usually other women) freak out even when the nursing mom is being discreet( which is not hard to do:)
and he said its b/c people in Chile have bigger problems than worying about breastfeeding in public. True!
Sometimes I would see a parent just freaking out on a kid and that really bothered me. Little babies riding in cars with no carseats was upsetting. I agree with you about bringing brand new babies out in the world. I have had almost a month of seclusion with each of my babies, it builds their immune system & it gives you time to get the hang of breastfeeding, b/c nursing a newborn is awkward no matter how many babies you've had. Seeing a tiny newborn dragged around the mall was kind of a common sight in Stgo.
Sorry for the book! I love reading your ( & others) blogs on expat living in Chile!
Yeah the strawberry/chocolate milk thing kills me...as does giving small children soda in a sippie cup. I was not allowed to have soda (except ginger ale when I was sick) until I was 10 years old! I agree with Clara though that it's nice to see women carrying their babies, but it's probably more because they can't afford the fancy contraptions we have in the US. I always cringe though when I see tiny newborns on the micros...I just think of all the germs!
Oh, thanks for the invitation for tomorrow, but I already have plans. Have fun, though!
Post a Comment