Chilli is spending time with Bluey and Bingo at the playground, and she takes a moment to remind Bluey not to compare herself to others, instead encouraging her to “run her own race.” This conversation sparks a memory for Chilli, and she thinks back to when Bluey was just a baby. At the time, Bluey had learned to roll over early, and Chilli was beaming with pride. However, during a mother’s group meeting with friends Snickers, Coco, Judo, and their moms, Judo learned to sit up before Bluey had mastered the skill.
This seeming milestone sparked a competitive streak in Chilli, who began to feel like she and Bluey were in a “baby race” with Judo and her mom. As Judo continued to reach new milestones, like crawling, Chilli tried to teach Bluey to do the same. But Bluey had her own way of doing things – instead of crawling, she’d roll, or use a “bum shuffle” to get around, and even crawl backwards. Chilli sought advice from her doctor and other sources, including a suggestion from Bandit’s mom that didn’t quite hit the mark. As time went on, Chilli started to feel despondent, worrying that she was failing as a mom.
It wasn’t until Bella, a seasoned mom of eight, stepped in and offered some reassurance that Chilli began to feel more confident. Bella reminded Chilli that she was doing a great job, and that it was normal to have doubts as a first-time mom. With this newfound perspective, Chilli was able to relax and let Bluey develop at her own pace. And before long, Bluey took a major milestone – her first steps – right in the kitchen, bringing a huge smile to Chilli’s face.
