As my dad pointed out at dinner the other night Alby adores
being the centre of attention. I’ve been
told by his nursery workers in the past that when he was starting to walk he
would often pull himself up at the table or window and wait until all eyes were
on him before he’d move his feet.
Well, from those already narcissistic beginnings I’m sorry
to report that his ego has simply continued to grow.
There is a little step down from the living room to the sun
room in my parents house. The step is
less than ten inches tall, but for somebody who has only just learnt to walk on
the flat is poses a significant challenge.
My son is nothing if not determined and my parents and I
spent a good hour the other day sitting at the bottom of the step as he
mastered it. It began with him holding
onto one of our hands to step down and then slowly learning to put one
tentative foot in front of the other sliding his foot over the edge of the step
and onto the carpet below until finally he was, albeit still very slowly,
walking down the step confidently and unaided.
Alongside this came much praise from us by way of plenty of
clapping after each successful attempt.
Alby, who never passes on a moment to self-praise joined in with each
clapping session with enthusiasm. After
a couple of minutes of this, the self-admiration stepped up with Trouble Monkey
being the one to start the clapping – not only when he successfully walked down
the step, but also when he walked up the step (something he is already highly
skilled at). As if that wasn’t enough, so
pleased was he with himself that he added in his happy dance – bouncing on the
spot at the top of the step, then the bottom of the step, then the top of the
step, then the bottom of the step…all alongside the usual cheering and
clapping.
My mum has interpreted it as him bowing to the applause of
his captivated audience – whatever it is it takes place with a sparkle in the
eye, a grin on the face and every time he is in the vicinity of a step.
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