Baby Blog

Some babies babble very early on in life. Others wait until they are nearly two years old before they decided to speak. I was “blessed” with an early talker and so it seems is my friend. Her eight month old informed her this morning that she was a “bad mama.” Besides her obvious hurt and confusion, this new young mom didn’t quite grasp the implications.

Because once they say two words together, it’s all downhill from there.

When your child learns to say a few words not only does their world change and grow a little bigger, so does yours. Being a parent started long before your child was born when you were talking to them in the womb, rubbing your belly and making soothing tones in the hope of easing back pain. Your child has been listening to you for a very long time. When they repeat things back to you though, it’s a little worrying.

Because now you really have to think about what you say.

I always thought it was funny (you know, back in my pre mom days) when my friends with babies suddenly started talking very well. Gone was the slang, the broken sentences and of course the swear words. Here was enunciating, repetition and slow sentence making.  I thought it was hysterical to observe these new leaves people turned when they became a parent. Thinking about their former potty mouths always made me giggle.

Not anymore.

I have learned the hard way that everything you say to your baby from the womb and for the rest of their life is stored, analyzed, tested and of course repeated at the most inappropriate time. Every time you speak, you become conscious of the effect of your own words. It’s like high school with diaper changes.

So instead of marveling over her child’s new found voice my friend’s immediate thought when her darling baby boy said “bad mama” was where he had heard the phrase.  Someone must have called her a bad mother.  We tried to reassure her to no avail.

Aaah motherhood. And you thought you were paranoid back when you smoked pot.

Wait until the baby arrives.