As I have been taking care of my little baby boy these last couple of months, it has come to my attention how truly difficult it is to take care of a tiny person. It blows my mind how people have more than one child, and raise them right, and little to nothing is said about how grueling it is. I have heard people say how being a parent is the hardest job on earth, but no details are given after that. They don't say how you spend every day in a mind-numbing haze. They don't tell you that you take out the trash four times as often because it is full of diapers. They don't mention that the feeding, changing and breast pumping schedule takes intense planning, organization, and cleaning skills. There is no talk of the worry about every part of your child's physical and mental well-being. All that is left out because of what? Sleep deprivation? Forgetfulness? Not to terrify non-parents? I don't know. All I know is that they are right when they say it is the hardest job on the planet, for all those reasons and many, many more.
I amazes me that as many children as there are have made it through infancy. Someone had to change your diaper, feed you every few hours, sooth your crying, dress you, teach you, and so much more. That goes for bad people or even serial killers. Someone once loved them so much to do all that for them. It also amazes me what kind of people are parents. Crazy people, mean people, not so smart people, emotionally cold people. Yet they all somehow managed to keep a little human alive until they could take care of themselves. Maybe not without some damage along they way, but still.....the care taking takes so many hours and a huge level of commitment. I am just so shocked that so many people have that in them.
As for me, I love my son so much, and that makes it easier to care for him. Maybe that is what makes it tolerable for everyone else. But I still get worried that I won't know what to do when a new stage arrives. I guess most people just live in the moment. That's all you really can do.
