A game one of my sisters will play with me in my first year of being alive is called Good Baby, Bad Baby. This consists of being told I am a good baby until I smile and laugh, then being told I am a bad baby until I burst into tears. This training will stand me in good stead all through my life.

Summary

This quote highlights the speaker's experience of playing a game called "Good Baby, Bad Baby" with their sister during their infancy. In the game, they are initially praised as a good baby until they show joy by smiling and laughing, at which point they are abruptly labeled as a bad baby until they cry. The speaker reflects that this training in constantly shifting expectations and emotions will prepare them for the unpredictability and instability they may encounter throughout their life.

Topics