Do babies have intuition? I’ve heard of “women’s intuition,” and I have to believe that to some extent I occasionally get blessed (or cursed, depending on who you talk to) with it. Lately, Brayden (who is now 14-1/2 months old – wow!) seems to have developed some kind of “baby intuition.” Let me explain…
It’s breakfast and Brayden is comfortably strapped into his high chair, the tray just barely fitting in front of his oh so chubalicious tummy. His plump little fingers amply filling his mouth with cut up red grapes. He sees the yogurt – peach, one of his favorites – being opened and stirred. His eyes light up and he smiles a big 5-toothe grin. He opens his mouth wide, allowing me to feed him the first bite of the creamy deliciousness. He reaches out, asking for more, as if wanting to devour the yogurt before I can even get another bite on the tiny, green, rubber-tipped spoon.
We continue in a synergistic dance of open mouth, insert yogurt, open mouth, insert yogurt.
All of a sudden, with only one little bite of yogurt left, he gives me his signature left handed block, turns his head away, and his soft little lips won’t open to save the world. I know he’s not just full; he would inhale another dozen grapes if given the opportunity. How does he know it’s the last bite of yogurt?
This has happened before with his cereal, and almost everything else that I spoon feed him, whatever it is, whatever meal-time it is. How in the world does he always know it’s the last bite??? It’s as if he has some kind of baby intuition. Hmmm… is there really such a thing? Is my child truly clairvoyant or is it just consistent coincidence?
Either way, there is one thing for sure that is magical about this perplexing recurrence, and that is Brayden himself. Whatever the reason or cause, it puts a smile on my face. I have to admit, though, it didn’t always make me laugh.
At first it was frustrating to be on the opposing side of the last bite protest. I would repeatedly try to force the last bite in. More often than not, I would succeed in releasing the contents of the tiny, rubber-tipped spoon, but although my aim (and my intention) was in the direction of Brayden’s mouth, it frequently ended up all over his face, hands, hair, and the floor. What a mess!
I finally had to just let it go. So what? if he didn’t finish his last bite of food. It’s not like my 28 lb baby was starving! Brayden was teaching me a lesson. If he could talk he probably would be saying, “Mommy, just be present and be happy. This is supposed to be fun.”
Maybe my little angelic Brayden does have “special powers” that I’m choosing to call “baby intuition.” I believe everything happens for a reason. Perhaps it’s the vision of the universe helping me to be happy.
So Brayden, from now on, if you choose to shun your last bite, I will honor that and smile along with you. After all, what’s most important is that we live in a happy home. You, my son, make our home blessed with joy, and for that and everything else, I love you!