Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Child rearing...?

Child rearing is a bit different within the African culture to say the least. It is not uncommon to see small infants sitting alone outside, playing with sharp objects including but definitely not limited to: saws, knives, razor blades, scissors, etc. Another oddity is...most small babes go around bottomless. No diapers or panties or shorts for that matter. Just bare bums. On the occasion I have held an adorable bottomless baby, this question has always loomed in my mind. Today that particular fear was overcome. In reality getting "wetted" on is not entirely awful per say. It is tragically hilarious! Here is how the situation went: Vitas, the home's sweet cook/employee was watching Aisha, the 4 month old neighbor girl. I was correcting exams in my room and Vitas came with Aisha to mop. She placed Aisha on the floor and went to fetch water. Welp me and the babe were having a gay ole time..until I picked her bottomless self up for a little quality time. I can tell you that ended fairly quickly. There was the pick up, the noticing of the puddle on the floor, the noticing of the warm wetness where bottomless babe sat on my hip, then the hold out like a helpless male just given a baby for the first time. Here is my favorite part, instead of the quick dash to clean up piddle from floor and babe, I was instructed to put her back where she was. Huh?!

4 comments:

Kenli Shea said...

Just laughed really hard out loud. Miss you.

kaelea said...

That is so incredibly hilarious! I've always wondered how they handle that. I'm guessing you were glad it happened before the mopping had been done! Now what about those women who carry the baby around on their backside in a sling - are the babies wearing something on their bottoms or do other people have to tell them when their little one has just relieved themselves? And here I thought the discolorization of their whiter clothing was from the dirt; silly me!

I love you so much. Keep up the great work of loving people like God loves them!

Sarah Megan said...

I have gotten peed on before. Hey, its a life experience at least yours has a funny story along with it!

Cheryl Russell said...

Oh yah, that's exactly how we do it here! hahahahaha!