Social smile

This is Boyboy's social smile. He has been practising in the mirror when he thinks Mummy isn't watching... together with his whiny-pout-face and his angry face -_-"

Today we went for dinner at Ikea. There was a lady sitting alone at the next table while waiting for her husband to get the food.

Boyboy stood up on his chair, turned around and called to her "阿姨! 阿姨!" and flashed his smile at her. The lady looked at him without emotion, and ignored him.

I was a bit miffed at her rudeness, but even more horrified when the boy persevered in calling her and flashing his smile, even after I reminded him repeatedly to sit down and finish his meal. He was actually bewildered why she did not respond.

Had a discussion with Hubby about this. We think that he is responding this way because he thinks that everyone will welcome him with open arms.

Due to two things:

Apparently he is cuter than most kids. (This I conclude from comments by friends and strangers, since as his Mummy I will think he is the cutest thing on earth, so my opinion doesn't count haha.) This means that he is constantly approached by strangers who praise him and socialise with him. So he thinks it is a natural thing to do.

Secondly, his playgroup is in a temple building, and volunteer aunties come in and out to help look after them. So he practically knows everyone in the building. Being on the poster which is plastered everywhere makes that worse, as everyone knows him even if he doesn't know them. This results in him being 'harassed' by aunties and ah-mms out of the blue.

So I guess he is used to talking to strangers and being friends with them. Today's incident aside, it actually makes me worried, cos he might just up and go with a baddie who approaches him.

Thought about teaching him not to talk to strangers or go with them, but in the context of his playgroup, that will be contradictory and might confuse him.

Aiyaya. How???