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For the holidays, we planned a trip back home to visit the family. Baby Boy was to meet his grandparents, uncles and aunts for the first time. We were excited to introduce him to his extended family but also to savour some rest well deserved.
Everyone at home welcomed the baby and treated him like he was a Sultan. Baby Boy was also happy to discover this new world around him. The more time he spent with his newly found family, the more he grew to like them....
Before the trip, I apprehended that Little Prince would not be able to mingle back home. I thought he would get sick with the change of weather, the insects, the dust and other factors that were unknown to him. But to my surprise, Baby Boy fit right in this new place...
For starter, Baby Boy ate all the food that his family, particularly his Grandmother- my Mother in Law- gave him to taste; from spicy rice to exotic fruit -not forgetting sodas- he devoured everything. Sometimes, it came to the point the we could not eat without him begging us for a taste. I was both happy and worried; Happy because it showed that even if Baby Boy was born abroad, he still loved his original country's dishes...Also it showed that he was growing up since he could process solid food. But I was worried this consumption of new food would cause some damage to his system. ( I was right to be worried because he developed some acne on his face probably caused by the oily rice)
Then, Baby Boy said his first words "Mama", "Baba". Just some days passed at home make him babble the wished words. I was so excited and happy. I was even mocking my husband because Baby Boy first word were "dedicated" to me. I was sure that the ability to express himself was further developed by listening to more people other than my husband and I talking. To my surprise, he was even singing along with my mother a Xmas carol-even though he was very out of tune- I was impressed.
But the most interesting thing was traditional and mystical dos and don't, my mothers-on both side- taught me. Little things that make a huge difference in the Baby's life. For example, I was never to cut the nails of Baby Boy for fear that he would become literally "someone that takes" (or a thief). Or, I should hold on to my Boy at dawn to protect him against the bad spirits.
I am a skeptical person myself and I pretend not to believe in mystic things. But it was hard not to believe in those things after seeing the changes it brought to Little Prince. For example, my baby used to wake up frightened in the middle of the night, sometimes even screaming. My mother in law recommended to put a metal bracelet on his left ankle. The day we did it, Baby Boy slept like an angel and did not wake up scared. I was blown away.
Going home is very hard for me since I got married. The reason lies in the fact that I have to pretend to be the best daughter in law, and have less opportunity to see my own family. Despite all that, I can see how going home is what is best for Little Prince. He is in his element there, surrounded by so many people who loves him. He has his Dad and I here, and we are doing our best, but didn't they say that is takes a village to raise a child?