Letter No.34 Formula Hater

 

It's 2PM in Taipei. 

I can hear the loud sound of thunderstorm.  

Rain droplets are gradually turning into big raindrops, constantly hitting the window. 

After 30 minutes of a fierce battle, 

I finally succeeded in putting Bubu to bed. 

He recently developed I-hate-formula syndrome after we started to feed him solid food. 

So far, he has been enjoying the solids a lot. 

We started out with thinly watered-down rice porridge, followed by pasted potato,

and then since yesterday, a tiny scoop of mashed carrots has been added. 

When I hold the spoon close to his lips to let him smell the food, 

he opens up his mouth and moves his lips like a gold fish 

gasping for air near the surface of the water. 

Upon the spoon's contact with his lower lip, 

he uses both of his lips and tongue to scrape up the food and carry it over into his throat. 

Very impressive does he munch so much food without any teeth!

Our current worry is that he doesn't seem to like formula as much as he used to before. 

Every time we try to feed him, he uses his hand to push the formula away, 

and often goes on a rampage until we actually put the formula completely away from his sight. 

Surprised by how much physical force he now has, 

we try to comfort him by all possible means, 

like making a rustling sound with soft plastic books or holding him on our shoulders. 

However, sometimes they don't work at all and the rampage goes on. 

When the weather is bad and gloomy like today and Bubu keeps crying hard, 

my mood is also dampened to the extent that I also want to cry with him. 

A moment of frustration against Bubu instantly arouses a sense of guilt that 

how come a parent cannot tolerate your child. 

I can now deeply relate to how a mother who takes care of her child all on her own 

is having so much a hard time both physically and mentally.

But after all the struggles are past and he becomes full of appetite again,

I can see him asking for formula like a golden fish. 

And as I see Bubu sucking the formula like a vacum cleaner, 

I can bring back all the warm feelings to be by the side of my son.  

To be continued...