Other People DO Exist, And Maybe They're Not So Bad

Recently Vivi has had a breakthrough.  She seems to have accepted the fact that other people exist in the world.  More importantly, she has decided that since they exist, she might as well like them.  It only took her fourteen months, but baby girl is making friends.

For example, Nana and Pop visited over the weekend, and even though she hadn't seen them since Christmas, she let them both hold her without so much as a whimper.  They read stories, played games, held hands.  Life is good with Nana and Pop, Vivi decided.

Then Amy, my best friend, came over on Sunday afternoon.  There was a time when Vivi wouldn't even look at her.  Now?  She cuddles with Amy too.   

And yesterday, when my mom came over, Vivi toddled right over to sit in her lap.     

There were no tears, no clinging to Mumma in fear, no awkward introduction period even though she's met these people more times than we could count.  She's all good.

We can even go out in public without her bursting into tears every time a stranger glances her way.

She didn't mind the random old man who patted her on the head at CVS then called Madeline a "handsome fella." (Although she probably shouldn't make friends with that guy.) She went around handing plastic balls to several dads at the playground on Saturday morning.  She tried to make friends with another baby at the bookstore by standing awkwardly close and staring at her.  (That's how I make friends too.)  

On the other hand, she gave the stink eye to a perfectly nice waitress who smiled at her today.  She didn't like a nurse we saw last week, or one of those cashiers at the supermarket yesterday.  Nor did she enjoy a different baby we met at the library recently.

But that's okay.  She doesn't have to like everyone, and she should be a little wary of strangers. Besides, who knows?  Maybe that baby at the library was a real bastard.  Vivi knows.