Baby Fever

crosspost from FOD.  Originally published Mon 2 Sept 2013

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I have a lot of friends who talk about how they have 'baby fever' or want to have babies. I need to contextualise my baby fever.

When I talk about baby fever, it's less the the "Holy fuq, there's a human growing in my body!" or the "Holy fuq this person is crying and eating and pooping at the same time, in my lap!!" or the "Holy fuq this person is walking around and-- Gotdamn, I thought I moved that thing onto a high shelf!"

It's more the "You just made the sign for 'milk'--let me get some for you," and the "You memorized that whole story and read it back to me. You are so awesome!!" and the "You ask really great questions. Let's brainstorm some answers together," and the "Your sibling is crying because of a choice you made. Let's talk about alternatives so maybe next time no one gets hurt."

The raising kids to become thoughtful, compassionate, radical, revolutionary visionaries.

That's what baby fever means to me.