Western child, Asian values

In recent weeks, my nine-week-old Raphie has begun to recognise faces and become increasingly aware of the arty decor, books, and toys in our home. So, I thought it would be interesting to take her to a baby massage class.

I did not expect her to transform into such a curious baby the minute she saw the other babies, and fully immersed herself into the new environment, faces and vibe. I realised then how much I’d sheltered her in the past weeks, and the only other baby she had met was the one she had seen in the mirror. We have had visitors, and they all doted on her, but I wasn’t prepared for a situation where she would have to compete for others’ attention and fit in socially.