Hush, little baby...

Right now I'm sitting in my classroom. It is my spare block, the block when I am supposed to plan things for the next day, week, or whatever. During my spare, another teacher uses my classroom. She's one of my good friends, so she doesn't mind me being in the room during her class. Right now, I'm laughing in my head. Here's why...

Our school has a family studies class. At this time of year the students in the class all receive the opportunity to be a parent for a few days! You have probably heard about the little baby dolls that the teachers of these classes use to teach students about the life of a parent. They are amazing! They are the size of a real baby, and so life-like. The babies cry...and the student doesn't know why! They aren't told why the baby is upset, they have to try to figure it out. Is the baby hungry, tired, or wet? What is the problem? The babies actually eat, they have to have their diapers changed, they need naps, they even need a certain amount of human contact. Inside the baby is a computer that keeps track of everything the student does or does not do during his/her time as a parent. Many of the students that take this class come out of it with with a new view on premarital sex because they certainly don't want to be parents yet!

Today there is a student in the class with one of these babies. The rule is that the student has to take the baby everywhere...to school, to the movies, to a game...wherever the student wants to go, so goes the baby, unless the student finds a babysitter! We as teachers are all very aware of how good these babies are for the students, so they are allowed in the classroom. A few moments ago the girl with the baby let out a huge sigh as her baby started crying AGAIN and, as she left the room, she stated, "I'm DEFINITELY not going to have a baby any time soon!" Now the baby is happily sitting in her lap, sucking on a bottle . The baby even makes realistic sucking noises! It's so funny!

Here's what I think...I think that EVERYONE should be required to take care of one of these dolls for a week before they are allowed to have children! So many people think that they are ready for a child but I have to wonder...are they really? I don't think that I am! If I took care of one of these dolls for a week would it make me realize that I am ready or that I still need more time? Children are gifts...they deserve the best treatment we can give them. Perhaps a test run would help all of us become better parents!