Dudley's development

[suehpfan]

No: HPFGUIDX 92575

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "ghinghapuss" <rredordead at a...> 
wrote:
> Geoff Bannister wrote:
> > Going back to PS to check on some facts about the Dursleys, 
> something curious suddenly struck me as unusual about Dudley.
> > We had a thread a few weeks back about Dudley's birthday and 
> decided that canon evidence pointed to late June, so that when 
Harry 
> arrived at Privet Drive, Dudley was about sixteen months old.
> > 
> > We are told that:> 
> > "Mr.Dursley..... tried to kiss Dudley goodbye but missed because 
> > Dudley was now having a tantrum and throwing his cereal at the 
> walls."
> > (PS "The Boy Who Lived" p.8 UK edition)
> > 
> > ..and when Professor McGonagall objects to Harry being brought to 
> the Dursleys, she remarks.....
> > "And they've got this son - I saw him kicking his mother all the 
> way up the street, screaming for sweets."
> > (same chapter p.15)
> 
> > I don't recall either of my sons being strong enough to throw 
> cereal at the walls when they were sixteen months; in a temper, 
they 
> might push the dish off the high chair or spit the cereal out.
> > Again, a child of this age with the ability to walk up the street 
> and kick Mum and also scream recognisably and specifically for 
sweets 
> > must be a fast developer, don't you think?
> 
> Mandy here:
> Great catch!  The throwing of cereal could happen accidentally.  
> Babies for flex their arms suddenly while eating and if any food 
was 
> stuck it would come off and fly against the wall.  But the walking 
> and kicking!  Highly unlikely.  Walking occurs between 12-15 
months.  
> Having the ability to kick at a target and balance while kicking 
> would be extremely rare in a 16 month old.  
> 
> Hum, a magical Dudley surfaces again.
> 
> Cheers, Mandy

I always invisioned Dudley in a stroller, kicking his mother.  My 
oldest had her first "real" tantrum at 15 months, on more than one 
occasion nailed me with a well placed foot or fist, and a lot of kids 
can say candy before they say mommy.

Sue, who begs "please...no more magic people at #4 Privet Dr."