Looking for advice on how to help DD (23 mos) in certain situations. She tends to be a bit shy, or at least more reserved with new people. The other night we were at a friend's house (a friend we don't see all that often), and DD was playing with her baby's swing. My friend nicely but firmly asked DD not to play with it, since the swing had taken a few hits from a neighbor's rambunctious kid and wasn't operating well. DD turned into my leg with that mouth wide-open silent cry. I could see she was absolutely mortified, and I felt for her, and didn't know how to help other than to pick her up and gently reiterate the message. My friend wasn't being mean, but the fact that the "discipline" came from an adult she didn't know well horrified DD.
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I distinctly remember that feeling when I was a child - just absolute embarrassment and humiliation. I wish I could help DD not take this kind of thing to heart. I've also seen her retreat if an adult she didn't know well did something that hurt her, too (in a minor way - like an inadvertent bump).
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I would like her to feel comfortable with herself and be able express her feelings when something is wrong... any advice? I know she's still young, but it distresses me that I am seeing this trend already. Thanks in advance! (Not sure if this is the best forum for this, so feel free to repost if needed...)
