There's something troublesome about how I feel when my kids look cute. It doesn't seem fair that if they sneak ice cream with sticky fingers, dirty faces, and a frumpy too small/too big combination of clothes that they picked out themselves and have since rolled in dead fish and mud puddles (or so it would seem) I am much less likely to let it slide as when they look cute to me. I am much less prone to loosing my temper and being snippy with them when they look more appealing. Is this my biology at work, the reason babies come out adorable with big eyes and helpless expressions and such, or is it something sinister? Should I feel guilty to acknowledge this phenomenon and use it to my (truly their) advantage? Perhaps I could purpose my perception to be always the same, or just better master my impulses so as to appear unbiased.
In truth I think this is fine and reasonable and unchangeable. But it does still worry me that I can feel so very different about this same little creature depending on the presentation. It's human nature to be sure, but that's doesn't mean I like it.
3 comments:
I've thought about this a lot. In the wider sense too, I wonder about how much looks affect what all of us become.
Oooh yeah I know what you mean. I just started putting Glory's hair up in pig tails. Right on about the psychology of it too. I actually purposely dress her a bit more cutesy when someone else is going to watch her, so the are extra gentle and nurturing with her.
Well I'm glad I'm not the only one considering this. I, too, use it intentionally with them meeting new people, or being babysat, and just in general with Jonas because he's generally, uh, misunderstood.
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