Baby Blog

When you have a baby the list of must buys includes a crib mirror. This is supposed to encourage your child to evolve into a self aware human being.  During tummy time many children lie on blankets that have small mirrors attached or sit in bouncy chairs with small mirrors dancing in front of them. Baby Nik was one of these children but showed no interest in mirrors until recently.

Now he’s the king of mirrors and self awareness and it’s fascinating to watch.

We have mirrors everywhere now. No I admit they are not safety glass crib mirrors. I picked up a bunch of oak framed mirrors of different sizes at the thrift store. I had meant to hang them on the wall as we are in desperate need of mirrors in general but once baby Nik showed such an interest, there seemed no reason to hang them out of his way.

I first noticed his interest when it went quiet one day. I was involved in my writing and it took me a few minutes to realize that my house was too quiet. I could hear Nik talking to himself in the hallway and peeped around the corner to look at him.

Nik was standing in front of the full length mirror (well for him at least) practicing his attitude. He would repeat the word “no” several times while trying different tones and facial expressions.  The next few times I caught him playing in the mirror, he was labeling his face. Another time I watched him practicing reading and then playing with a toy. He likes to see how he looks doing different things.

After he practices his actions and labeling in the mirror, he comes over to practice on me. He points out my eyes, my nose, my ears. He pets my arms and says “arm in sleeve.”  He takes what he learns in the mirror and transfers it to his real life. It’s quite a process to watch and not something either his father or I remember doing as a child.

Maybe it’s because this was a delayed milestone for Nik that it has taken on such a complex form. I’m not sure but it’s certainly entertaining.

I just wish he would practice behavior things in the mirror other than how to argue back at me.

Apple tree and all that.