Don’t ill treat me pet dingo, Ringo
I’m always a sucker for scientific small talk. At a “Baby Housewarming” (don’t ask), I was talking to a woman about her little boy. He was a very quiet child and slightly reluctant to wade into the baby melee. “Yes”, she said, “he’s very shy, but both his Dad and I are as well.” I don’t know much about behavioural genetics, so don’t know whether or not you inherit social skills. Is there a Wallflower allele? A Social Butterfly mutation? Future Science Tuesday post, perhaps.
If there is a gene for sociability, Z’s got the Social Butterfly variant. He doesn’t get it from me. Once I get to a party or a dinner or drinks, I usually do OK. I just dread the thought of trying to interact with my fellow man, have done since I was small. That’s one of the downsides of moving country every few years - you get comfortable with a social group and then take off. At the new destination you have to start again. It’s actually been a lot easier since we moved Down Under. The Australians, for the most part, are outgoing and vivacious and draw you out of your shell whether you want to be drawn or not. Having a baby, and friends with babies, means that you have an easy topic of conversation at most social outings.The boy seems to be finding it easy as well. 
Making friends at Z’s age seems to be very tactile. I guess if you can’t use verbal communication, then your hands are the next best alternative. The problem is that these kind of friendship gestures run the gamut from “Aww, isn’t that cute” to moves that would be illegal in the World Wrestling Federation. I’ve opted for the former for the photos in this post, but Z seems to prefer The Bushwhacker type of interaction - eye gouging, face scratching or just the good old-fashioned Double Gutbuster. On multiple occasions this weekend, at multiple kid parties I’d hear a kid screaming, glance in that direction and see Z - looking pleased with himself - on top of the screaming child. Nobody says anything, polite company and all, but as I’m pulling my child off theirs I’m pretty sure they’re making judgements on my parenting skills.I wonder if “bullying” is genetic. He gets that from his Mum.
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Neither the title nor the song from which it comes has anything to do with this post. But I’ve been playing this less racist version of the Rolf Harris classic all weekend long. I challenge you not to get it stuck in your head.
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The eye gouging photos were funny! I would rather he be the bully than be bullied. Bad attitude I know, obviously neither is ideal, but if you have to chose one…
14 Jul 2008 at 4:19 pm
Dr. O’C bullied me into posting the more damning photos.
14 Jul 2008 at 4:25 pm
who was the sadist taking these photos?
14 Jul 2008 at 5:45 pm
That would be Chris.
14 Jul 2008 at 6:32 pm
here’s a novel parenting tip- when I was wee i bit my sister. so my mum bit me. i never bit anyone again.
14 Jul 2008 at 9:25 pm
What does your Mom biting you have to do with anything? Crazy Scot.
Dr. OC’s last blog post..Don’t Ill Treat Me Pet Dingo, Ringo
14 Jul 2008 at 9:48 pm
From what I’ve heard, Bushwhacker-style moves are okay for a child. You have to start worrying when Zach removes and eats the turnbuckle padding in true George “The Animal” Steele fashion.
14 Jul 2008 at 10:24 pm
I knew there were some pro “wrestling” fans out there.
14 Jul 2008 at 10:34 pm
If Zach does turn out to be a bully, I think he’ll get away with it for a long time. The little dude’s too cute to stay mad at. (Of course, the soon-to-be-eyeless children probably don’t think so.)
courtney’s last blog post..Home Again, Home Again
14 Jul 2008 at 11:34 pm
i mean he’ll probably push gouge eyes til he has it done to him and realises IT HURTS!
14 Jul 2008 at 11:43 pm
One of these days I’ll have to get Grayson to teach him his signature wrestling move, the “Black-bat-double-crappie-flop-pile-drivin’-body-slam.” But not until he’s old enough to know not to use it on his peers.
For the record, I agree with Courtney. What Zach lacks in social graces he makes up in good looks.
Jessica K’s last blog post..Kiddy Collages and a New Obsession
14 Jul 2008 at 11:43 pm
oh, and what is a baby housewarming? mental
15 Jul 2008 at 12:30 am
Yeah, what is a Baby Housewarming? Kind of like a Welcome-Home-Baby kind of deal?
We have found it a fine line between teaching LittleBird to stand up for herself and being bossy. I guess the kids vacillate between the two until they find a happy medium that suits their personality. That being said, Dr. O’C is on to something, if you had to choose…
NATUI’s last blog post..What’s In Your Mailbox
15 Jul 2008 at 3:38 am
He’s just being assertive.
(LOVING the Cork GAA goalkeeper’s jersey btw)
Xbox4NappyRash’s last blog post..The best laid plans
15 Jul 2008 at 5:52 am
I told you not to ask about a baby housewarming. I think it’s either a “mini-housewarming” or a housewarming with babies. Either way, it was good fun. Baby parties rock.
Well done on the Corcaigh strip pick-up, Xbox. I was wondering if any of you Irish would notice that.
Where’s Nathan? I did far more WWF/WWE research for this post than was probably necessary because I didn’t want to be mocked by a true fan for my shortcomings.
15 Jul 2008 at 6:18 am
Where in f*** did you find that Rolf track???????
arizaphale’s last blog post..Best Shot Monday: The Photographer
16 Jul 2008 at 10:11 am
It’s good, innit?
16 Jul 2008 at 10:18 am
(secretly agrees)
arizaphale’s last blog post..What Am I Thinking?
16 Jul 2008 at 9:10 pm
Good ol’ Rolf. As an Aussie kid growing up in the 80’s, ”Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport” was a staple ingredient in every songbook in Australia. I hate it for this reason, but the real issue, and indeed the eternal question is…
Why on earth does Rolf NEED his kangaroo to be tied down??
Agnes’s last blog post..Incoming: Second Dan, Jon & Roy and The Sapiens
17 Jul 2008 at 3:56 pm