I think I know why people yearn for more babies as their kids get older. It’s not a desire to continue procreation, it’s nostalgia.
When you have babies, you think it is so hard.
And it is.
Make no mistake, all that sleeplessness and constant feeding is exhausting in a way nothing else ever is. All the thinking, and researching and making decisions that may affect the rest of someone’s life can be debilitating. But with babies there are those quiet moments that you just never get with older kids.
You know what I mean? It’s those lovely stolen moment times where you just sit and stare into that little person’s eyes and they look back with what can only be described as complete adoration.
That’s rewarding.
Those peaceful moments where you can take a breath and remind yourself why it’s all worth it.
That doesn’t come much as they get older.
Oh, the feeding and often sleeplessness are still there. The decisions and thinking and researching are exponentially more now that there are allergies and learning issues and socialization to consider. The decisions are endless.
The peace, is rare.
Now, they’re big and loud and not afraid to tell you how you mess up stuff all the time. Oh, you still get I love you’s now and then but it’s mostly when they’re running away toward something better than what you have.
Did I mention they’re loud? They’re loud about how much they hate the food you cook. They’re loud about how you didn’t wash the right uniform. They’re loud about how you don’t know anything about chicks or math homework. They’re loud about how much they think you generally suck as a mom.
They’re loud about how you just don’t get them.
Babies adore you.
Children tolerate you.
Maybe I’ll get a dog.
