Nothing Wrong....
Posted by Ashley Duiker , Tuesday, August 2, 2011 7:37 AM
So I have been stewing for awhile about some points of view and I think it's time to put my (our) thoughts out there. I apologize if it comes across as a rant, it is not directed at anyone, there are just some thoughts that need to be expressed.
Zoey, my sweet, precious, sparkling, adventurous, loving, giggling, dancing, beautiful, Zoey, is shy around people sometimes. In new or different environments, she generally likes to be able to fall back to the people she knows best and is most comfortable with. A lot of the time, that's myself or Henry. This is a completely normal and developmentally appropriate response and behaviour. It is NOT a character flaw.
Zoey is smart and able to sense when she is comfortable. Once she feels safe she is able to explore and engage with others. Please don't take it personally when she is tentative around you. There are at least 20 other factors that sometimes play into how she responds to others. When we haven't had enough sleep, or are feeling sick or in pain, most adults struggle to interact with others.
Lately, as Zoey has learned to walk, she is becoming more independent and explores her environments with more and more confidence. It's exciting to watch and help her develop this confidence. However, even if she continues to be a little shy with others, Henry and I will never fault her for that perfectly normal behaviour.
So the simple point of this post is to let Zoey know (when she's older), others around us, and maybe other parents who have 'Shy' children, that it's okay! My daughter is not wonderful in spite of her shyness, she is amazing because of all the part of who she is, which includes a shyness. I am so grateful that Zoey has confidence in her parents and feels safe and secure.
