Lessons from a Baby

Babies, not to romanticize them, are the purest beings among our human species. They arrive with only instinctual impulses. They ask for only the most carnal interactions (eat, love, and nurturing). The problem with this is they deal with adults that have long relegated these emotions to second place among material and superficial things. Cars, homes, money, and clothes rival the things that should be first between familial associations.

Watching my daughter play outside in an open field brought a series of revelations to me. She did not need any toys. The grass between her fingers and the sun and wind on her delicate face was a stimilation that was so pure and satisfying for her. Outside of the occasional glances at her father for reassurance, she was totally free and at peace. I envied her. What a joy it must be to be able to enjoy the natural environment without superficial items. How long, I wonder, will it be before she decides to, or we teach her to, to pay attention to the playground set or television that will derail her connection from the Earth. I use the word connection as I believe that babies are tuned into their surroundings in a way that adults have forgotten.  

Another lesson that my child has taught me is that a lot of work goes into maintaining a relationship. Just imagine the time and effort that a parent places into their child. Now imagine that effort placed on your closest friends and family. The dividends that a good attentive parent sees from paying attention to their child will yield results in other relationships also. The daily grind of child rearing; changing diapers, cleaning them, reading to them, holding them, et cetera are all given freely regardless of the your mood or the babies perceived mood. Babies do not care about the car they ride in or the home they live in. Quality attention and care is all they need.

So, for the relationships that truly mean something, think how would I act, how much patience would I afford to this person, if they were my baby, that I love more than life itself.

AHS

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