By Abigail Thomson
Many claim that China’s one-child policy has created a generation less independent and more self-seeking than their predecessors, hence labelling the children as “little emperors.” During my time in China, I landed myself a part-time job, baby-sitting a one-child generation “little empress,” 6-year-old Lulu. I wasn’t so much responsible for looking after Lulu, but would spend two hours a week in the family home playing with her in English. From day one, I found myself noting the sort of “little empress” characteristics I had thought were just stories.
The very first thing I noticed was the attention- seeking. On my first day, I was picked up by Lulu, her mother, nanny and chauffeur. I can honestly say that this first journey to Lulu’s house was the most stressful car journey I have ever experienced. Lulu, her nanny and I were lined up on the back seat. Or, not so much in a line actually, as Lulu was sprawled in the foot well. Lulu was clearly not happy about the lack of attention she was receiving from her mother who was asleep in the front, and the sight of a strange new foreigner entering her car only aggravated the situation.