A window into the future

Looking after babies is hard! We had babysat our niece the other weekend – for 3 hours and we had to feed her lunch. How hard would that be?

Really how hard?? That was when all the random thoughts began … what do we feed her for lunch? Will she choke if I feed her some of my meat pie? What do we do with her? What happens if she suddenly gets a fever??? What if she collapses suddenly?!!?!

Well, I calmed myself down cause I figured nothing was going to happen and it gave me great comfort to think … there’s those mums that are like 16 when they have a kid, and somehow they manage not to kill their children – Dessy, you should be ok. Get a grip.

So we fed her chicken soup and pasta – just what we were going to eat anyway – sat around and watched TV (TV is such a good, but evil babysitter! It felt like we were all getting dumber watching the TV) and took her to the local little kids ball playground and spent an hour chasing her up and down the slides, and watching her sink and flounder in the big tub of balls ala Maggie Simpson.

It was exhausting! For the first time ever in my life I could finally see the appeal in NOT having children … it’s so encompassing – the parenting/caring for a child. It’s a cliché, but I can see how your whole life would revolve around your kids and basically their welfare becomes the most important thing for that period until they can look after themselves. It didn’t really ever strike me that way until this last weekend. Am I ready to give up my lazy mornings/evenings surfing the web or relaxing, going to fancy dinners, late nights at friends places playing games or poker until the wee hours?

Realization: that’s why you’re supposed to be married before you have kids. The wife can do that. Thanks mushie!

Oh, and I hope you are managing ok all you new parents!