I have been a bit obsessed with the developmental milestones that Emilia is supposed to meet. I get these newsletters from Baby Center and Pampers that announce "this week(month), your baby is suppsoed to do ...". Though I think Emilia has been meeting all her milestones so far, it's still too early to tell. Of course every baby is unique... but I can't help but wonder whether Emilia will be developmentally delayed down the road because of her premature birth. This is the reason why I am so obsessed with giving her exercise and sensory stimulation. It's as if I must "undo" any effects that premature birth has on her if there is any. Sometimes I am singing, reading, talking, and playing with her as an obligatory duty, not for enjoyment of the time I spend with her. And of course, all the health care professionals we meet always ask me if I am giving her LOTS of tummy time. I want to tell them she hates tummy time and it's nowhere near the 20 mintues/day recommendation, but I simply tell them I put her on her tummy "as much as possible" and then I start to feel like an inadequate parent.
In the parenting book I am reading these days, the author says babies are like snow flakes. Each baby is a unique individual and we cannot simply categorize them and expect them to act this way at this age and that way at that age. Everyone says I should enjoy the baby while I can. Yes, I will try to be her best playmate rather than her personal trainer.
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