Both kids latched on to the sitter’s pant leg and looked up at her adoringly. For the two of us, they had just one word: “Bye!” All their fears and insecurities had evaporated in an instant. I’ve since heard similar stories from other parents—even naturally nervous and clingy kids, it seems, often display an eerily natural level of comfort and security when left with comely caretakers. None of this should be so surprising. Scientists have proven that aesthetics are hard-wired into the brain, that even infants stare longer at pictures of lovelier faces, that otherwise unconditionally loving parents lavish more attention and praise on prettier kids than goony ones.
In other words, kids are just as superficial and shallow as we adults are. Hard lesson in human nature indeed.
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