Soundtrack to silence?
I wonder how I would feel having a screen shoved up against my face while the world whirls by backwards? I would probably scream uncontrollably too. And not for fun.
No, I am not talking about being on a ride at a show.
Last night I saw a woman pushing her Stoke pushchair with determination. Facing her was her baby, howling at the top of his lungs. I have been there. I don't own a Stoke, but have had that look of determination on my face.
That, please don't approach me or give me a look of pity - I have things that need to get done and baby howling combined with a compassionate face may very much result in me wanting to get into a corner, curl up and cry.
But then she did something that threw me. She stopped, sighed, grabbed something that was hiding the baby's face, touched it a few times. During this time, the baby had stopped crying.
I had a sneaky peak into the pushchair and saw the baby was about 9 months old. He was also very cute.
Curious, I continued watching, expecting her to go through the process of elimination drill I normally follow when dealing with a howling child. Cold? Wet? Hungry? Tired? Bored?
After fiddling with the thing that had been hiding the baby's face, she put it back on the pushchair, dangling in front of the baby. The baby starting howling again. She sighed and walked on.
I was left gob smacked. The baby had it's own tablet. The unmistakable opening soundtrack for 'Cars' the movie was heard as she walked passed.
I didn't know what to feel or think. I try not to judge other parents parenting style, as I am a walking contradiction. I had and hold views that are interchangeable depending on a range of elements I am faced with. I am not one to judge.
You never know what goes on behind closed doors. You never know the temperament of a child, the stress the parents or child is under, let alone the background to what you've just walked into or witnessed.
In spite of this, what I witnessed just didn't connect well with me. What about you?
Image: "Connected Tablet Touch Screen Shows Communications And Connecti" by Stuart Miles courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.
No, I am not talking about being on a ride at a show.
Last night I saw a woman pushing her Stoke pushchair with determination. Facing her was her baby, howling at the top of his lungs. I have been there. I don't own a Stoke, but have had that look of determination on my face.
That, please don't approach me or give me a look of pity - I have things that need to get done and baby howling combined with a compassionate face may very much result in me wanting to get into a corner, curl up and cry.
But then she did something that threw me. She stopped, sighed, grabbed something that was hiding the baby's face, touched it a few times. During this time, the baby had stopped crying.
I had a sneaky peak into the pushchair and saw the baby was about 9 months old. He was also very cute.
Curious, I continued watching, expecting her to go through the process of elimination drill I normally follow when dealing with a howling child. Cold? Wet? Hungry? Tired? Bored?
After fiddling with the thing that had been hiding the baby's face, she put it back on the pushchair, dangling in front of the baby. The baby starting howling again. She sighed and walked on.
I was left gob smacked. The baby had it's own tablet. The unmistakable opening soundtrack for 'Cars' the movie was heard as she walked passed.
I didn't know what to feel or think. I try not to judge other parents parenting style, as I am a walking contradiction. I had and hold views that are interchangeable depending on a range of elements I am faced with. I am not one to judge.
You never know what goes on behind closed doors. You never know the temperament of a child, the stress the parents or child is under, let alone the background to what you've just walked into or witnessed.
In spite of this, what I witnessed just didn't connect well with me. What about you?
Image: "Connected Tablet Touch Screen Shows Communications And Connecti" by Stuart Miles courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.
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