Just a London boy

When we tell our friends and family who live in Chile or the United States that we do not have a car here in London, they just look at mami in absolute shock.

"How do you get around?!" they say.

Then they look at me and add "Especially with him?!"

Mami usually just shrugs and says, "We just do. I guess that's city living".

Yeah, city living.

Well I don't know about mami, but I'm like papi.  I love living in the city. Papi grew up in a place called Tokyo so he is a true city boy. Besides, there is always so much to do!

I love riding the bus and sitting in the back corner - it always smells funny back there, but I get a great view!

I like going on the tube just like mami does when she goes to work - and I event like to stand up and hold on to the bar.

I like taking the choo-choo train and looking the window for cows and sheep when we travel somewhere out of London.

I like going up the moving stairs at the tube stations (even though they scare me a little).

I like holding my train ticket and waving hello to the station managers.

I like walking to the small market on our high street and picking out fruit and vegetables and walking back with all of our shopping bags.

Truth is I really don't know any other way to live. Anywhere we go we have to walk, take a bus, train or the tube.

I heard mami telling papi that "the time has come to get a car. I don't know how much longer I can do this." I don't really know what she means by "this" and I didn't really hear papi's response, but based on the expression on her face I don't think he agreed.

Some how I don't think this discussion is over.

To be continued...

But what about you? What do you like or don't like about living in the city?

Oh and for kid friendly things to do in London check out my other city friends Babes About Town.

Are you the nanny?

Me at two weeks old! How can anyone doubt she is my mami?

It happened again.

It had been several months now, and it took me and mami by surprise.

Mami and I were in a store on the high street trying on summer shoes when the girl from the shop looked down at me, smiled and said “oh, he’s a cutie”.

“Thanks very much" I thought and I stopped chewing on the foam bar on the buggy and stared up at mami who was looking at me all gooey eyed like she often does. She was just on the cusp of thanking her, when the girl quickly cut her off and followed the statement with the forbidden question  “are you his nanny?”

“Nooooo!” I thought, "not again!"

“Of course she’s not my nanny, that’s my mami” I screamed out, but I don’t think she quite understood me.

I pointed up at mami who had already lost that twinkle in her eye and then, keeping very calm and collected mami looked  her square in the face, and in a very clear and authoritative voice (a voice I know very well) said:

“Nanny? Nooo. He’s all mine”

Clearly the answer did not suffice, because the girl looked from mami to me and back again as if doubting her.

She then did something that drives mami absolutely mad. In a high pitched faux baby voice (which I find ridiculous and very ineffective by the way) exclaimed at me  “Oh, no? She’s not your nanny then?...Noooo, she’s your mummy, right? Your mummy?!”

I just shook my head and kept pointing at mami who was holding a shoe in her hand. I’m pretty sure she was fighting the urge to throw the shoe at the girls face. Thankfully she didn’t and we were out of there!

See, the first time mami was asked that question we were both absolutely gob smacked. She flinched in disbelief when the older woman at the park asked, “Is he yours?” Mami was so caught off guard that she nervously smiled and said muttered “of course” and walked away.

“How could someone ask such a question? Of course he’s mine!” She would say later at home.

“Unbelievable!” I would hear her tell daddy. “I would never ask anyone that question!”

Being less mobile back then, I just lay on my back, threw my tiny fists in the air and flashed her a gummy smile to let her know that I knew she was my mami!

As the months rolled by we would occasionally come across another person who would ask if I "belonged to her".

“Of course I’m hers!” I’d squeal. I still did not understand why anyone would doubt that she was my mami.

We learned to deal with it and move on. But in all fairness, mami and I had no idea that half of London was full of kids and babies being looked after by nannies. After all, we were new at this!

Mami and I now realise that many of the mamis at the park are in fact nannies, and she too finds herself wondering “mami or nanny?” Although a seemingly innocent question by the person asking, it can hurt many mamis feelings, especially since they dedicate so much time to us! Mami would not want to hurt anyone’s feelings by asking that question, so we just keep it to ourselves.

Even so, when the girl in the store asked her the “forbidden question”, it stirred up old emotions for both of us.

I reminded mami that just as many people have very kindly come up to us to say just how alike we look. That quickly cheered her up and she soon forgot about the “incident”.

How about you mamis out there - have you been asked this question? How did you react? Is it more a city thing? (It has only ever happened to us in London) Tell me about it!