My encounter with Baby Think It Over was incredibly intense as it educated me extensively on the enormous duty of being a parent. The tasks involved feeding, burping, diaper changing, putting the baby to sleep, rocking them, and engaging in playtime. Being a parent necessitates continuous interaction with your child. The aspect that posed the greatest challenge for me was waking up during nighttime hours to attend to the baby’s feeding or diaper change.
Despite the frustration of waking up in the middle of the night and struggling to fall back asleep, being a parent comes with fulfilling responsibilities. Although the baby is not real and cannot physically hug or touch you, it is still satisfying when they coo after being fed or make content noises after having their diaper changed. Just knowing that you are properly caring for your baby brings a sense of satisfaction.
Through my participation in the Baby Think It Over project, I have come to realize that getting pregnant at this age is not worth it. Balancing schoolwork, studying, and taking care of a child would be difficult for any high school girl. I applaud those girls who are facing the difficulties of motherhood at such a young age and managing to conquer them. Having a baby is a significant responsibility that greatly changes your life, taking away time with friends, social activities, enough sleep, and personal leisure.
Having the baby with me not only gave my parents a perspective on grandparenthood, but also served as a reality check. Waiting for the right time to become a parent is crucial as my parents were not accustomed to having a crying baby in our house. These mere 4 days of having the baby were exceedingly overwhelming and stress-inducing for me. I can’t fathom the challenges of raising a real child of my own. This experience taught me that babies require much more effort than I initially believed. They demand constant attention, care, and sacrificing your time.
The presence of the baby also prompted me to contemplate our society. Whenever I went out to restaurants or ventured into Ann Arbor, I would receive disapproving glances that troubled me. One particular Friday, as I exited school, two teachers locked their gaze upon me. As they passed by, one of them quietly muttered, “I hope that’s not an actual baby.” This comment lingered in my thoughts and provoked reflection on the possibility of the baby being genuine and if I were a parent.
Experiencing the disdainful looks and questions about its genuineness led to a profound realization of society’s disapproval towards teenage pregnancy. Personally, I oppose abortion, so if I were to become a parent at this early age, I would opt for raising the child. Nonetheless, the severe criticism and unfavorable labeling from others greatly trouble me. Engaging in the Baby Think It Over project genuinely enlightened me about the challenges and responsibilities of parenthood, even when it can be unforgiving. Reflecting on this encounter, I now comprehend that waiting for life-altering circumstances is futile.
Although I have dreams for college and my desired career after high school, having a baby right now would greatly change the direction of my life. However, becoming a parent can be extremely rewarding if the circumstances are right. I am looking forward to that moment, but only when it is suitable. Taking care of a baby demands substantial effort and personally, it was more difficult than fulfilling because it disrupted both family time and academic advancement.
I wasn’t just sitting at home watching TV all day. Trying to have a normal life while having a baby is not realistic, to be honest. However, this project has made me realize all the responsibilities and rewards of being a parent. It’s a good project to determine if you truly want children in the future. I did get a taste of what it’s like to be a mother. I believe it’s safe to say that I do not want to go through anything like having my own child for at least another 10 years.
