Being scared isn’t selfish, if you don’t know better. If the fears had been said outloud, the truth would have been soothing and freeing. Children have these unselfish fears all the time, it’s normal. I’m sure he felt guilty about it when he got older and understood better. And the “old people” probably just thought he was extra shy – something most people understand about little ones.
That’s actually sad, the grandparents just love the child, but the child was selfish and wanted to stay young.
Being scared isn’t selfish, if you don’t know better. If the fears had been said outloud, the truth would have been soothing and freeing. Children have these unselfish fears all the time, it’s normal. I’m sure he felt guilty about it when he got older and understood better. And the “old people” probably just thought he was extra shy – something most people understand about little ones.