Be kind to others.
A post that I read on MiM recently got me thinking about how I talk to strangers. Or more specifically, how interacting with strangers has changed since the bear cub came along.
I've don't really problems interacting with strangers in a work environment, but I guess there's a power dynamic at play there. Outside of work I am introverted and can spend a lot of time living in my own little bubble, but babies and toddlers have a way of attracting attention to themselves. Bear is also much more outgoing than I expected him to be! Since he was born I have become much more aware that my views of the world (or how I treat other people) will influence his behaviour as he gets older. I want Bear to be a kind person (this is probably highest on my list of positive attributes) and I think that being kind to others should extend to anyone you see.
I wouldn't say that I was rude to strangers in the past, but nowadays I will much more readily make eye contact and smile at anyone that I pass on the street. If I can think that I made someone's day just that tiny bit better by having a positive interaction, then it makes my day that bit brighter as well!
On the topic of toddler interactions, we go to the same coffee shop almost every day. Bear is completely comfortable there and loves the baristas, and he will also talk to pretty much anyone else who happens to come in. There's another family who goes there regularly, and they have a daughter who is a couple of months younger than Bear. Bear was very excited to see the other kid there this morning, and ended up being on the receiving end of a big cuddle. It was a bit cute, and Bear didn't know how to respond. Our first instinct is to tease Bear about his 'girlfriend' making him all shy, but shouldn't we just be encouraging them to be friends? Why does it automatically need to be a pretend romantic interest just because it's a boy and a girl? Or am I just overthinking this?
I've don't really problems interacting with strangers in a work environment, but I guess there's a power dynamic at play there. Outside of work I am introverted and can spend a lot of time living in my own little bubble, but babies and toddlers have a way of attracting attention to themselves. Bear is also much more outgoing than I expected him to be! Since he was born I have become much more aware that my views of the world (or how I treat other people) will influence his behaviour as he gets older. I want Bear to be a kind person (this is probably highest on my list of positive attributes) and I think that being kind to others should extend to anyone you see.
I wouldn't say that I was rude to strangers in the past, but nowadays I will much more readily make eye contact and smile at anyone that I pass on the street. If I can think that I made someone's day just that tiny bit better by having a positive interaction, then it makes my day that bit brighter as well!
On the topic of toddler interactions, we go to the same coffee shop almost every day. Bear is completely comfortable there and loves the baristas, and he will also talk to pretty much anyone else who happens to come in. There's another family who goes there regularly, and they have a daughter who is a couple of months younger than Bear. Bear was very excited to see the other kid there this morning, and ended up being on the receiving end of a big cuddle. It was a bit cute, and Bear didn't know how to respond. Our first instinct is to tease Bear about his 'girlfriend' making him all shy, but shouldn't we just be encouraging them to be friends? Why does it automatically need to be a pretend romantic interest just because it's a boy and a girl? Or am I just overthinking this?