Holding Babies

 Don't you just love it when somebody brings a baby into the office/family function/church/whatever? And everybody coos and makes funny faces and loves on him or her and takes turns holding the baby? Wait. Hold on. Flag on the play. I've got a problem with that last part.

I am not a baby holder. It's not that I have anything against babies. Babies are the most adorable things on the planet and are right up there with fluffy kittens, but please don't put one in my lap. I don't mind holding one if you need me to. I am a responsible, loving adult who will take care of your child if the need arises. But I will NOT be doing the following:

• throwing it in the air (not even once, let alone the multiple times people tend to)
• swinging it around to make it laugh
• bringing it back and forth close to my face; again, to make it laugh
• placing it in the burping position
• bouncing it like a horsey or any other rousing, energetic play

I know the value of human life, and while the child is in my care, I will protect it with my own. I will do everything in my power to make sure it stays safe and well cared for. If it's related to me, I probably love him/her very much and am glad the child exists and am happy for his/her parents. 

But don't expect me to have any sort of normal interaction with it. I'm just not built that way. I've never been good with babies. I've always felt awkward with them. Not real sure what to do with them or what the expectations are. I kind of expect their little brains to already be thinking things and am surprised when they don't answer me. It's very weird.

It's also kind of shocking that I chose teaching as a profession given this apparent weakness, but I've admitted from the start that I was drawn to older students, and one of the very first things I said when I spoke to guidance counselor types at WVUP was that I eventually wanted to teach college, so it doesn't seem odd to me, but it might to others.

I'm still awed by the learning process of the very young, which is why one of my specializations was early education. I was mostly interested in the curriculum. I'm fascinated with how their little brains develop so quickly. They take in so much so fast. So, I guess I like to observe them from afar. Just don't put one in my lap. :)