Cartoon of a boy to crying baby, “Wait! Stop! This isn’t part of the script.”
Some people shy away from kids because they just don’t follow a set script. They are so unpredictable! One minute they can be happy, the next, wailing like the world has come to an end.
It can rattle different types of people.
- Planners can feel frustrated when a child sends their day off course
- People who value power feel powerless, especially if they’re used to throwing that power around. Babies don’t care about your authority.
- Manipulators can be stymied because a baby hasn’t learned to be manipulated (unfortunately, we all learn quickly how to be manipulated!)
- Tired people just aren’t going to get much sympathy from a baby. Get help quickly!
- Young people may not have the coping skills or maturity to handle such a situation
It can lead to tragedy if someone doesn’t handle the unpredictability appropriately. It breaks my heart and makes me angry when you hear a story about an innocent child that has experienced shaken baby syndrome.
If you are a tired parent or caregiver, get some help. We all need our rest. If you don’t know anyone, reach out to your local church. They value you and your child.
In the end, it is worth it. Children will not always be crying. There will be good days along with the bad. The unpredictability of a crying child goes hand in hand with the thrill of rediscovering the world through innocent eyes. The spontaneous crying goes with the unpredictable hugs. You will learn as much as you teach. You will laugh as well as cry with them. In the end, it is all worth it!
