Sometimes, though, a time-stealing baby is exactly what you need. If you’ve lived your life on the go—working, partying, socialising, working some more—it might be time to slow down.
Babies often come at a point in your life when you’re ready to stop doing all those things people say you’ll miss. All those nights out dancing? Yeah, that was starting to get old. The crazy hours at work followed by work dinners? Small talk is the worst. Drinking all night and sleeping all day? Well, the sleeping part sounds okay. But the rest of it? Thank god you don’t have to pretend you love it anymore.
Now you’re at home, sitting on the floor, handing blocks to your baby and you think about how different your life is. And maybe you’re okay with that.
Babies can bring softness to your life; a light you didn’t realise was missing. If you let them, they’ll force you to stop rushing around, trying to accomplish all the things, every day. You can stop, breathe, be slow, potter, feel the breeze, smile, look at the sky, touch the leaves, forget about the world for a moment or two.
While everyone is out there, hurrying about and trying to win at life, you can opt out for a little while. Babies are like the ultimate lesson in mindfulness. Here you are living it, one game of peekaboo at a time.