On 2/4/2010 1:08 PM, Andrew Fildes wrote:
> Having worked for so long in teaching, where this is a very common
> occurrence, I do most sincerely believe that offices and other work
> environments should be fitted with 'baby alert' systems so that sensible
> people can flee and be spared all those silly noises and sentiments; the
> lying about the attributes of some ugly, swollen-headed brat; the smell of
> sour milk and shit; the screaming of sociopathic infants; the desperate
> rationalisations of the sleep-deprived mother who has just realised that life
> as she knew it has disintegrated.
> But then...who listens to me.
>
Hard to tell ... No responses, so the answer might be no one. On the
other hand, perhaps most readers don't agree with your opinions, can
tell that they aren't likely to be changed by any response, and choose
to save their virtual breath.
Suffice it to say that my personal experience of babies and young
children doesn't agree with yours.
We have a good friend who had given up on having children when a late
one showed up, and then another! I think she was 40, or close, when the
second was born. I would describe our experience of her life, as we see
it, and I know she would describe it, as pretty much the exact opposite
of "the desperate rationalisations of the sleep-deprived mother who has
just realised that life as she knew it has disintegrated."
A life that seemed uncertain, unfocused, sometimes depressive, was
transformed into a purposeful life filled with joy. Great mother and
great kids who are ever so lucky to have her. Whip smart, highly
educated and relatively well off, but until she could be what she is
clearly meant to be somewhere inside, unfulfilled.
Projecting one's own prejudices and experiences onto others
indiscriminately is a pretty sure way to turn out wrong.
Perhaps when the babies show up, "sensible" persons such as yourself
should just leave those who enjoy it to their fun, and go have a beer by
themselves.
A. Listening Moose
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