As we grow older, and become more wary of the hardships that the world presents us on a daily basis, we almost forget that there was once a time in our lives when we were children.
There once was a day when we had absolutely no clue whatsoever about what life had in store for us. We were too young and our brains weren’t fully developed for us to know. Our only concerns at the time was whether the square block will ever fit in that circular hole, and when the hell we were getting another juice box to drink. That’s it. Life was that simple.
It was glorious times, and now, as we all progress into our mid-to-late 20s, and beyond, we are faced with real problems. We’re still trying to fit a square block into the circular hole, except we are the square block, and the circular hole is the world. And it’s not working.
So that is why, whenever we are introduced to small children, we become excited and joyful, because for a moment we revert back to our own childhood, and feed off the small child’s youthful enthusiasm and blissful ignorance. Oh and you’re probably wondering what context you would come about meeting small children. Well I’m obviously referring to when you are introduced to a friend’s niece or nephew, or a family friend’s son or daughter. I do NOT mean standing on a street corner holding jolly ranchers while holding a sign saying “I want to meet your kids.”
Anyway, so it’s always funny to see a small child light up with joy at simple things like spinning in a revolving chair, or the blow of bubbles from one of those… bubble-maker things, or in the most adorable context imaginable, interacting with a smaller animal like a kitten or a puppy.
It’s a nice little distraction. Little kids are supposed to be cute. They have not yet developed their own unique physical qualities, and they all pretty much look the same.
However, after a couple of minutes of the kid doing the exact same thing repeatedly, and you watching and laughing along, the time is up. After about two minutes, maybe three minutes tops, it’s time to return your life and go about your business.
I bring this up because today a coworker brought her grandson into the office. Obviously it’s even more noteworthy in this situation, because it’s not often you see a 2-year-old in a work environment (Unless you work at Discovery Zone), and therefore, it’s only inevitable that every single person in the office within a 100-foot radius is going to be attracted towards that desk so that they could meet the small child, all while laughing and making sounds like “Awww” and saying, “Oh my God, he’s so cute!”
And when he spins around on the chair for the first time, sure, it’s funny. Even I’ll chuckle.
However, when it happens for the 11th or 12th time, it’s not funny anymore. I’m not blaming the kid for doing it, shit, if I were 2-years-old I’d be spinning around in that chair until my mom forcefully dragged me away from it.
But when you’re a spectator, and you continuously act like every single thing the kid does is “the cutest thing you’ve ever seen,” then that is when it becomes annoying.
First of all, you’re giving the kid way too much attention. As a result, It’ll cause him to seek more attention, and then he will carry this behavior with him as he ages, thinking that he’s the greatest thing to ever walk this earth. Why do you think Lindsay Lohan turned into such a trainwreck? Because, as a toddler, her mother probably brought her with her wherever she went, and since she was a cute child, every single idiot probably worshipped her. She got used to it, and next thing you know, she’s a drug addict.
By giving these little kids so much attention, we are all enablers.
People’s lives must be extremely dull if they are so entertained by every action, every word of gibberish and every facial expression that they witness from a small child.
I mean, I get that it’s funny, but some people act like it’s the most incredible thing they’ve ever experienced when a small child says practically anything.
And I don’t even dislike kids. I like them. They’re fine. I just think it’s silly when people act like a small child is something they’ve never witnessed before. They all do the same exact thing. Always.
So again, just two minutes of my attention, and then I’m bored by them.
I’m going to be a great father someday.