Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Bringing Up Baby

My girlfriend babysat her sister’s 6-month-old daughter yesterday, and I’ve got say watching her with that baby was really special. Should we ever decide to get married and have children of our own, I know she’d be a terrific mother. She’s one of those people who’s great with kids. I’d like to think that I am too, but sometimes when I consider all the responsibility that goes into being a parent, I have to admit, I get freaked out. I mean it just seems so overwhelming.

Then again, with someone like my girlfriend sharing with me the joys of bringing up a child, the prospect doesn’t seem quite as daunting. I already know what kind of parents we would be. I'd be the overprotective, disciplinarian dad, she the ever indulgent mom. Such a complimentary basis for childrearing is ideal; too much in one direction or the other and you run the risk of having either a spoiled brat or a kid with absolutely no personality!

To me, there is no greater relationship bond than that which produces a child. Bringing a new life into this world is the ultimate test of a couple’s love; from that point forward, your needs and those of your partner are forever secondary to those of your child. All manner of sacrifice and concession must be made, which is something that any parent already knows, but for young couples in particular is often a rude awakening.

Some of my previous girlfriends were great in their own way, but many of them were not, in my opinion, parent material. Perhaps when I was dating them, I wasn’t either. Maybe it’s because the current love of my life brings out the best in me that I now believe, if the circumstances were right, I would be able to tackle the prospect of being a father. I guess seeing her holding that baby really hit home with me!