Having had no babies in our house for half a decade Alpha and I are in dire need of a refresher course before the arrival of Peanut this summer. So we've been hanging out with as many small babies as possible in an effort to ease ourselves back in gently prior to the Big Event.
This is what we've figured out:
Babies are really cute. Especially when they smile. And they smell really good. Plus they feel nice to cuddle. And persuading a baby to fall asleep with minimal screeching feels a bit like winning the lottery. But all this is only really great in the context of other people's babies. Because then you can hand them back when they shout or if they've done one of those really nasty up-the-back-of-the-babygro yellow poos. Or if you want to do something nice and solitary, like go for a wee.
This is because babies are tiny dictators. Their weapons of choice are noise pollution, sleep deprivation and projectile poo - and they have no moral qualms about launching their arsenal at the slightest provocation. Like the most successful of history's tyrants, babies lack any comprehension that they do not rule the world, throw fits of rage if their every whim is not met like five minutes ago and are at their happiest when surrounded by cringing slaves desperate to avoid their terrible wrath.
The other important thing to remember is that babies have no manners. They think nothing of interrupting dinner, phone calls, sleep and other necessary pleasures in favour of their own selfish needs. Even when you ignore them they fail to take the hint. They really are terribly rude.
With all this in mind, Alpha and I - cosy and complacent as we are due to having school-age kids who can thankfully (finally) wipe their own bottoms and understand the concept of bribery - are now running scared. Understandably, right? I mean, come on...
In stark contrast Firstborn and the Small(er) One are both beyond excited and recently announced that their ancient mother is Up The Duff in the weekly school 'Show & Tell', thus brilliantly trumping all the other kids with their yawnsome pigeon feathers and suchlike. In fact, maybe the adoring older siblings could bring the Peanut up while Alpha and I carry on with Life As Usual? Just think, it will be a superb life lesson for the girls plus hopefully will put them off snogging boys and other rude stuff, thus acting as a mental chastity belt for years to come.
Now that's what I call a win-win situation.
This is what we've figured out:
Babies are really cute. Especially when they smile. And they smell really good. Plus they feel nice to cuddle. And persuading a baby to fall asleep with minimal screeching feels a bit like winning the lottery. But all this is only really great in the context of other people's babies. Because then you can hand them back when they shout or if they've done one of those really nasty up-the-back-of-the-babygro yellow poos. Or if you want to do something nice and solitary, like go for a wee.
This is because babies are tiny dictators. Their weapons of choice are noise pollution, sleep deprivation and projectile poo - and they have no moral qualms about launching their arsenal at the slightest provocation. Like the most successful of history's tyrants, babies lack any comprehension that they do not rule the world, throw fits of rage if their every whim is not met like five minutes ago and are at their happiest when surrounded by cringing slaves desperate to avoid their terrible wrath.
The other important thing to remember is that babies have no manners. They think nothing of interrupting dinner, phone calls, sleep and other necessary pleasures in favour of their own selfish needs. Even when you ignore them they fail to take the hint. They really are terribly rude.
With all this in mind, Alpha and I - cosy and complacent as we are due to having school-age kids who can thankfully (finally) wipe their own bottoms and understand the concept of bribery - are now running scared. Understandably, right? I mean, come on...
In stark contrast Firstborn and the Small(er) One are both beyond excited and recently announced that their ancient mother is Up The Duff in the weekly school 'Show & Tell', thus brilliantly trumping all the other kids with their yawnsome pigeon feathers and suchlike. In fact, maybe the adoring older siblings could bring the Peanut up while Alpha and I carry on with Life As Usual? Just think, it will be a superb life lesson for the girls plus hopefully will put them off snogging boys and other rude stuff, thus acting as a mental chastity belt for years to come.
Now that's what I call a win-win situation.
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