The right to cry

Baby E likes to cry... at his grandparents' places, nighttime from 5- 7pm, before he sleeps, before he drinks and in front of strangers. Initially, I felt embarrassed as people asked why is he crying, what's wrong, is he hungry, wet, tired? Or Don't you feed him enough, how much milk you feed him, don't you have enough breastmilk by 'friendly' aunties? I often had to find reasons to defend him, no lah, he's like that all the time, he will sleep peacefully after a while. It's his routine, It's the way things are. He's not hungry, he's just fussy.

The CNY period was a test as he cried in front of many relatives while other babies remained happy and satisfied. I am not sure if my PIL are also embarrassed but from their looks, they probably are. Perhaps the question of why do other babies remain so happy while my grandson cries so much? Then I realised that babies cry for some reason or another. I meant that I knew of course, from reading from forums, baby care books, websites but there must be something wrong for them to cry. A wet diaper, hunger, colic, tired etc

Perhaps all Baby E wants is for me to be around him, to hug and kiss him, to cuddle him and not to feel embarrassed by him. Somehow, mummy felt otherwise and kept on wanting to defend him. Baby E has a right to cry, to say he wants mummy to hug and kiss him, to play with him. There is no need to defend him, no need to justify his actions, no need to be angry with what others say, no need to care what others think.

Baby E, Mummy will hug you and calm you down everytime you cry cos you are calling out to me in your beautiful cries.