Yesterdays story about overheard conversations brought back a long forgotten memory.
When I got my very own doll I loved to carry her about and talk to her.
After a few months I realised that I would have to put her down or find a new way to carry her around the house, in order to shift the dust, do the washing and cook the meals. Since it was long before I ever heard of Google I had to trawl the shops and magazines for advice. Then one day I found exactly what I wanted, posted off my cheque and waited patiently.
One week later the Postman arrived with my parcel. It felt like Christmas as I ripped off the paper to find my new treasure. It was just as described and I wanted to use it straight away.
Following the instructions I carefully put my doll into the harness, put the straps over my shoulders and tied them around my waist. Satisfied that all was well I slipped into my overcoat and off we headed for a walk. My doll was sitting snugly against my chest and could feel my heartbeat, she could see and touch my face and most important she could hear my voice.
My overcoat at the time was fitted neatly at the shoulders and flared out to a full swing from there. It buttoned to the neck but by leaving the top two buttons open little miss was snug and warm inside it with just her head peeping out.
As I walked briskly down the hill, talking non stop, I noticed a man walking ahead of me. He looked back and smiled and then continued on his way. This action was repeated several times within a short distance. Eventually he stopped and turned towards me. All the while I was getting closer.
When I was alongside him he spoke for the first time “Ah! You are talking to the baby. I thought you were talking to me! When I looked back at you I didn’t see the baby.”
I was talking to Elly. Is it any wonder she never shuts up nowadays. Hands up, it is all my fault.
I think I talked to my boy non-stop, too. Now he hardly ever says anything he doesn’t have to – but his younger sister talks incessantly!
I’m sure that was very good for her, being so close and hearing you talk to her. I was reading that the best strollers are the ones where the child is facing towards you and can see you, rather than facing away from you. The child that faces her mother is likely to be happier and healthier.
I have a vision of you sailing down the road rather like a galleon or perhaps a clipper ship?
I can’t remember if my mother talked to me a lot…I remember some of the things she said tho’….but I know that my preferred learning style is auditory as evidenced my my talkative style of teaching.
I bet Kenju’s boy learns/t in a different mode.
The modern invention of hands free mobile telephony, creates such embarrassing moments too. It has happened to me any number of times as I am a slow walker and I hear some stranger talking behind me and when I turn to see, he or she is usually smiling and nodding and talking except that there is no eye contact. It is then that it occurs to me that they are on their own trip!
@Judy – The only time Elly is quiet is when she is lost in a book. One of my brothers learnt by following actions. He would sit in the car with my father and mimic all the moves for changing gears, indicating etc. He actually picked up the method for knitting far quicker than I did!
@Nick – I remember watching a programme on TV before Elly was born about how babies react to sound. It certainly worked for Elly.
@Magpie – I wish the long legs moved as well now as they did in those days. I had a long stride and covered ground quickly.
@Ramana – I often mistake a moblie remote conversation as someone talking to me. 🙁
Definitely a clipper then!
I still think people are talking to themselves….can’t help remembering someone being hauled off a bus for talking loudly to himself … probably locked away too…but that was the 50s.
Magpie,
I’ll go with the clipper! I was once described as a gazelle!
O dear, I was almost at the end and worrying about your sanity strapping a doll to yourself while you did the housework! Mine never liked the baby sling thing. I must have talked a lot if Adam’s any indication, can’t shut the bugger up!
Baino,
There are times when I wonder if I was ever sane!
Not one of those ones that bounce around the bush/veldt surely?
Magpie,
I think that was the idea. Mind you I had jumped over a low table to pick my little bundle after a fall.