Oh baby...

 I started reading "Bringing up Bebe" the other day.

No, Ben and I are not expecting to hear the pitter-patter of little feet anytime soon. Part of my major in college was Early Childhood Education, and I honestly find the topic fascinating. I like to keep up with things in the child development field. In all honesty, while I may never become a teacher - the things I have learned have really help shape a lot of my beliefs on all things 'child' and I enjoy hearing theories, concepts, and ideas.

Thus, I'm just going to ramble for a few minutes on the topic.

Since my Mom was always working with Children, me and my sister were constantly exposed to the world that is child. Being around kids was a part of every day life - and I honestly thought that it was that way for everyone else. Since I've moved out of my parents house, I have been amazed to find out just how many women can write a 15 page paper on the fall of Communism, but cannot tell you how to change a dirty diaper. There are many women who can figure taxes with ease, but have no clue what that nasal euphoria called "baby smell" is...
*If you are reading this, and YOU have no idea what "baby smell" is... for the love of all that is Holy, grab the nearest baby - any one under the age of 1 will do - and sniff as if your life depends upon it! Preferably, a freshly changed baby. Grabbing and sniffing the wrong end of a dirty baby is just asking for problems.*
I've learned that many people approach children with fear and caution. Some because they don't really understand them - some because dealing with something small as a baby can be rough. Dealing with the hovering adults freaking out that you'll do something wrong - is worse.
Example: My sister (sorry sis - throwing you under the bus here.) and babies aren't exactly like peanut butter and jelly. Small babies tend to not like her... She's uncomfortable and babies can sense fear. When our friend Tabby announced that she was having a baby - Katie was excited beyond belief. In fact, her first words were: "This is great!!! I can hold it and if I drop it it wont matter!!!"
Yeah, that might have come out completely wrong. Thankfully, Tabby and the rest of us at the table understood what it actually meant: "I think babies are cool - but they're tiny and scare the crap out of me. New moms freak me out more. But I'm comfortable with you so I wont be too freaked out to hold this baby!"
Heck, I don't blame her - I myself refuse to hold a baby if certain adults are around. We adults really make things all too complicated.


While I do not have children on my own - I have learned that dealing with children honestly comes down to three basic rules:

1 - No matter how much you plan and prepare, you will still be surprised and feel like you're never prepared. (Thus save you and the kid some stress - don't be too hard on yourself.)

2 - Every child is different. (It doesn't matter if you raise 49 children - the 50th will still surprise you.) But they all require the same basic needs: love, safety, respect, etc.

3 - It's a life-long learning deal. You cannot wrap child care/rearing/teaching up into a neat little box with a pretty little ribbon - you just can't. There will ALWAYS be new things to learn.



Okay, I should probably go face the laundry room that I've been avoiding like the plague. I ran out of clean pants 3 days ago...

- Extra love and baby giggles to all.