It has been so much fun to watch Ava grow up. At nearly 9 months old, she is a happy, healthy girl who is already learning how to do the customary head bob and enjoys a spoonful of bunna now and then. Ethiopian childhoods are so different than American ones. Not better or worse, just different. Consider this:
Diapers are a luxury here. Hence, Ava just goes when nature calls. I just always hope and pray that I’m not the one holding her at the inopportune time. But, on the flip side, think of all the landfills in America that are filling up with diapers that will probably outlive me. For the sake of the environment here, I’m glad diapers are a rarity.
Ava’s first haircut was with a razor blade. Scary for me, but she didn’t seem to think anything of it. Fortunately, Aselef and Souwnet have steady hands.
Infants are rarely out of physical contact with their mother. I’ve yet to see a crib—mother and baby share the same bed. Need to go to market, do the wash, prepare dinner, or ride the bus? No problem. Baby just gets strapped on back and carted along. It’s rare to see a fussing child strapped to her mother’s back. I’m not sure why this phenomenon occurs. In many ways, it reminds me of a momma cat carrying her young by the scruff of their neck. The kitten just hangs limply as momma carts them to and fro just as Ava seems to go into a trance when riding along on Genet’s back.
Toys (or what we would traditionally call a toy) are scarce, but the kiddos seem perfectly content. An old water bottle, a cup, or a long stalk of grass can provide at least minutes worth of entertainment. I did, however, interfere with playtime one day when I realized that Genet had placed a plastic bag over Ava’s face for a game of peek-a-boo! Yes, a teachable moment!
Kids are rarely told “don’t do that, you’ll get your clothes dirty.” Here, where many homes have mud floors, dirt is just an unavoidable reality. At the end of the day, clothes and kids are washable. No sense stressing about it.
Diapers are a luxury here. Hence, Ava just goes when nature calls. I just always hope and pray that I’m not the one holding her at the inopportune time. But, on the flip side, think of all the landfills in America that are filling up with diapers that will probably outlive me. For the sake of the environment here, I’m glad diapers are a rarity.
Ava’s first haircut was with a razor blade. Scary for me, but she didn’t seem to think anything of it. Fortunately, Aselef and Souwnet have steady hands.
Infants are rarely out of physical contact with their mother. I’ve yet to see a crib—mother and baby share the same bed. Need to go to market, do the wash, prepare dinner, or ride the bus? No problem. Baby just gets strapped on back and carted along. It’s rare to see a fussing child strapped to her mother’s back. I’m not sure why this phenomenon occurs. In many ways, it reminds me of a momma cat carrying her young by the scruff of their neck. The kitten just hangs limply as momma carts them to and fro just as Ava seems to go into a trance when riding along on Genet’s back.
Toys (or what we would traditionally call a toy) are scarce, but the kiddos seem perfectly content. An old water bottle, a cup, or a long stalk of grass can provide at least minutes worth of entertainment. I did, however, interfere with playtime one day when I realized that Genet had placed a plastic bag over Ava’s face for a game of peek-a-boo! Yes, a teachable moment!
Kids are rarely told “don’t do that, you’ll get your clothes dirty.” Here, where many homes have mud floors, dirt is just an unavoidable reality. At the end of the day, clothes and kids are washable. No sense stressing about it.
Ava and Genet
What child do you know that would tolerate a leaf stuck to her head day in and day out? The leaf covers a glob of kibe (a homemade butter) that is used to moisten Ava’s naturally dry hair and scalp.
Ava showing off her new pink outfit courtesy of my Mom.
