Babysitting Joel

The monotony of the afternoon was shattered by squeals of delight from my grandnephew. Yes! I am a granduncle already ? has been one to several grandnephews and grandnieces for many years now. Eight-month old Joel is Elaine?s second child. Elaine is Peter?s daughter. Elaine is at the hospital looking after Janelle, Joel?s elder sister, who was afflicted with a persistent fever that refused to go away.

Peter and wife went to visit Janelle and dropped Little Joel here for the maid to look after as babies are not allowed into the wards. I got breathless just watching this little thing waltzing all over my apartment in his walker. When I was on the phone with Wuan, he gawked at me and yelped again and again, wanting to talk into the phone too. Thankfully he was here for a couple of hours only. He would have totally exhausted me had he stayed any longer.

Author: Peter Tan

Peter Gabriel Tan. Penangite residing in the Klang Valley. Blissfully married to Wuan. A LaSallian through and through. Slave to three cats. Wheelchair user since 1984. End-stage renal disease since 2017. Principal Facilitator at Peter Tan Training specialising in Disability Equality Training. Former columnist of Breaking Barriers with The Borneo Post. This blog chronicles my life, thoughts and opinions. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

9 thoughts on “Babysitting Joel”

  1. James,
    Toddlers stepping into my apartment have to be accompanied by an adult who will be held responsible for all breakages. Hmm, maybe I will put that warning at the entrance.

  2. Congratulations, Grand-Uncle Peter! You know, when you talk about your cousin Peter, I’ve always imagine a young main in his early 20s. Haha. Now I know better.

  3. you know what would be interesting? Take a photo of the swirls / whorls on his head, just so he can have a laugh over that old wive’s tale about how it determines how naughty children get in the future

  4. He looks innocous enough! How much trouble can a toddler in a walker be? (Ha ha ha, just jokes). But babies/toddlers are incredible things and they are only at this stage for such a short period of time, blink and it is all over. I hope his sister is okay! Hope she gets well soon!

  5. Dee,
    Actually, Joel got admitted into the hospital a few days after that entry but both of them are discharged and well now. Do not underestimate the power of a baby on the walker (sounds familiar huh). He will grab anything he can get his hands on and throw it on the floor. I have a lot of items at his grab-level because that is also my convenient grab-level. That is why babies are only allowed into my apartment with strict adult supervision.

  6. I have a baby myself and he is the same age as Joel. He also grabs everything and throws on the floor. But i love him very much and sometimes i’m even not angry when he do so.

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