Watching & Learning? – I Hope Not!

Tuesday was a pleasant day. It wasn’t too hot. With the workmen working in the backyard, I decided to take Bree with me to have lunch in the village. Her day time sleep pattern is changing again. She is now able to stay up longer and is therefore able to have lunch at a decent time like everyone else. She now naps approximately between 12:45 and 2:45. (She sometimes sleeps longer.) I packed a little vegemite sandwich and a drink in her new lunch box and a water bottle to take with us. Someone gave her the lunch box and bottle for her birthday.
The workmen were putting together outdoor play equipment that Bree’s parents had ordered for her birthday. I was instructed to try my best at shielding it from Bree until her parents came home at the end of the day. She saw the arrival of the workmen and was pretty intrigued. I spoke to them briefly to let them know that we were going out and then lowered all the blinds of the windows looking out to the backyard. I lied to Bree telling her that the gardeners were working on the flowers. (The gardener that comes around doesn’t look one bit like the workmen.)

It was only 11:00 am but my tummy was rumbling. As soon as I found Bree’s hat, we were off. (Yes! I did remember to apply sunscreen.) Bree and her parents do not live in a country town but for some posh people living in certain places in Melbourne, the shops nearby are known as the village. I decided to sit outside this popular cafe since it was such a lovely day. I parked Bree next to me. The waiter took my order and added, “And a slice of mud cake?” I was so embarrassed. He obviously recognised me and remembered what I usually asked for. For some funny reason, Bree started to laugh at me on cue!

Bree likes her vegemite sandwich all chopped up into little cubes. At her age, she is still not very good at eating sandwiches with multiple fillings. So, her cheese was also served in little pieces as well. She sat maturely next to me on a booster seat offered by the waiter. This particular café is very popular among young families living nearby. While I chomped on my huge grilled foccacia (if that is how to spell this type of Italian bread) with chicken, avocado, spinach and cheese, I tried to have our usual lunch time conversation. At this stage our conversation is still mostly one way. Being outside, we got to talk about the things we could see. Pretty soon, something happening nearby caught her attention. A boy who looked like he was about 4 was reluctant to get back into the car and his mother was shouting at him. He wanted to get on this coin operated ride-on toy outside the grocery store. Instead of getting into the car as was told, he decided to throw a tantrum right in front of us. The other diners, Bree and I became his audience. He dropped to the ground and thrashed about like an angry walrus. Bree watched his every move. Her facial expression was priceless. LOL. I tried to distract her but his loud cries demanded her total attention. Eventually, his mum gave up pleading and came over to pick him up to physically put him into the car. She apologised to everyone before driving off. One elderly gentleman sitting at the table next to us leaned over and cheekily said to Bree, “I hope you are not getting any new ideas.” Bree laughed. She probably did this because he had some sauce on his beard. LOL.

I do not allow my charges to share my food partly because I am greedy and partly because I hate cross-contamination. Since she had been behaving well and ate her lunch, I decided to buy her a mini banana muffin. (Yes! Bree is allowed to have those. Her parents take her to this café almost weekly.) Once she started tucking into the muffin, I tucked into my heavenly delicious slice of mud cake. Our enjoyment was rudely interrupted by the arrival of another family that just parked at the spot vacated by the mother and son. The cries were heard loud and clear before the children even stepped out of the Toorak Taxi. The mum carried the crying tot into the bakery. The dad was telling what looked like the eldest child off and she was sobbing quietly. The little girl that looked like the middle child was crying full scale. Only the middle child was in school uniform and she walked past our table wailing with one hand stuck in her mouth. Bree watched with total fascination. Minutes later, the crying stop and the family emerged from the bakery. Bree watched the girls as they ran to the grocery store. There was nothing I could do to distract her. I didn’t want to leave until I have a chance to clean her up after she had finished her muffin. Several minutes later, I spotted that the family was heading back to the car. The crying started again. Bree observed the family until their car pulled away. She decided to wave bye-bye at them for some reason. LOL.

As I was wiping her hands and face, Bree decided to pop her hand into her mouth and hummed loudly. The elderly gentleman turned around to have a look. His wife smiled. I coaxed her to say goodbye to them and she obliged. I reckon her attempt was a little too enthusiastic because the lady couldn’t resist but come over to speak to her whilst I paid for our food. As I walked past the couple, Bree sat in her buggy with a hand in her mouth squealing. I wasn’t the only one who recognised what she was trying to do. The elderly gentleman winked and said to me, “She did learn something new today.” I hope Bree was not taking mental notes from her observations of that day. Her mum is quite worried that Bree might turn into a bad tempered little girl now that she has turned two.