It’s kind of like camping …
Posted by Sarah - 25/11/03 at 08:11:57 amI’d like to start this post by saying how much I appreciate people who want to be parents. You see, to me, parenthood is something like being a doctor, police officer, or waste disposal technician (or perhaps a bit of all three). I have a lot of respect for people who choose to be parents. I believe good parents make an invaluable and underrated contribution to our society. I just wouldn’t want to be a parent myself.
And that’s because: Once you have a kid, it’s like going camping every day. Every day! Did we pack the diapers? The two extra changes of clothes? Rain gear? Sun gear? Wipes, lotions, ointment? Bottles, snacks, juice? Toys, blankets, shoes, hat and mittens? Can we even fit the baby in the stroller with all that other stuff?
And it’s not just for a year or two, or even three. Having kids is like signing up for camp for at least the next 16 years of your life! Sure, they’ll lose the diapers and wet naps and blankets, but that will be replaced with books, homework, more toys and games, art supplies, sports equipment, ballet shoes, karate uniforms and everything else kids need for school and fun.
Granted, I realize that hauling around a ton of crap everywhere you go may be the least of most parent’s worries. They probably spend a lot more time making sure their kids are developing into smart, healthy, well-adjusted human beings. But it’s something I think about every time I see a lone parent struggle onto the Metro, with a toddler in an overburdened stroller, an infant strapped to their chest, a backpack stuffed to the gills, and a separate diaper bag to boot. No wonder most parents pack their kids off to camp for a few weeks every summer!
Similar Posts
3 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Leave a comment
Powered by WordPress. Theme based on GimpStyle.
© 2009 Terrapin Gardens
True, the amount of gear increases ten fold, but nothing can replace the feeling of having your little one smile at you - it melts your heart! I would add that parent is also negotiator, psychologist, comforter, playmate, teacher…
Love the new site design!
Comment by Stephany — December 4, 2003 #
camp? a few weeks?
i never experienced that. a week of girl scout day camp. a week of evening vacation bible school. that was it.
now, my family went on vacations. we camped a lot ourselves.
wait… i was raised by a teacher. she had the summers off.
i guess camp is more commonly used by parents who both work…
Comment by Jos — December 5, 2003 #
I did long stretches of camp, but it wasn’t overnight or anything. Kind of like an after school program when there’s no school (in fact it was through the YMCA which also did after-school for me). But after a few years of both I convinced my mom that she should just leave me at home by myself since that’s how I spent the rest of my time anyway and I hadn’t died yet. I went camping with my dad a great deal, but that and hanging out in the neighbourhood were both better than camp.
Comment by Yuriko — December 5, 2003 #