Expert: Shannon G. - 4/9/2007

Question
I adopted a girl from China and on her first birthday, was told to lay out a pen, and ball and a book and see which one she crawled to first.  (This was in addition to eating the long noodles.)  I did this and am now scrapbooking the photos, but I can't recall the meaning of each item or the details of the tradition.  Can you please email me the details so I can journal it in my daughter's scrapbook?  Xie Xie!

Answer
Yes, i know that tradition too. My mom said i crabbed a pen and they thought i would do something related to literature in the future. Now i am a manager assistant. What's the connection?? anyway, sorry for my late reply. usually we believe if the baby crabs a pen, he will be a writer and if a book, he would be a author(what's the difference??just something like that. if it's a ball, i guess he will be a sportsman. You can use your imagination and give her more things to choose. It's just an old tradition and definitely no reasonable explanations at all.
What did your daughter crab?? :)
Anyway, Thank you for posting this question and I really hope your daughter grow up healthily and happily. I'm sure she will with your care!!
And again, thank you for adopting this little girl.
You can write me anytime you want about any Chinese things.
Best wishes,
Shannon