Awake

Mediocre Parenting: All Are Welcome

Whining Ahead. (You have been warned.)

Today, I came upon a disturbing scene: the sight of a young couple with babies, who didn't look much like they were embracing their roles as parents.

This is the second time I have come across this particular type of scene at my local Subway. (Subway, the gathering place for couples not ready for parenthood?!?) There was a fussy toddler on the table, not more than 2 years old, a hungry infant in the stroller probably 3 or 4 months and a bun in the oven, probably 5 or 6 months along. The woman (with the bun in the oven) was ordering food and deciding (without much success) on a bag of chips. ("There's a jalapeno one here. That could be interesting.") The man had the toddler on the table with one hand and was making use of his remaining upper-torso-appendage by feeding the infant a bottle.

I just rolled my eyes. Honey, if you had been breastfeeding these babies in the first place, you wouldn't have had them so close in age and overwhelming you into chip-indecision-zombiehood.

I just don't understand why I, a young woman quite capable of caring for and communicating with a wide variety of children, am without children, and this overwhelmed couple entrusted have two babies and one on the way.

It just makes me feel sad and helpless when I see families like this. I wish I could do something productive about it instead of just whining about it on my blog.

Bleh.