Babies Are Good Social Props

Ever notice how people go ga-ga over babies? It's a very strange phenomenon, but I'm getting to make use of it nowadays and it's kind of fun. Until shortly before I had my own kid, I was pretty anti-child ever since I was in high-school. Even when I got married I wasn't looking forward to kids. Now the story is a little different with the little guy in the house and it's been fairly pleasant. Mind you, that's just one baby, I don't know how people with multiples do it.

One benefit I didn't foresee was the inordinate amount of attention he gets when he goes out into the world. It helps that he's super-cute (cute wasn't in my vocabulary before), but it's like he's got the power to make people melt when they look at him. The waitress at our weekend breakfast diner goes totally nuts over the little dude, and she doesn't much like kids either. Yesterday my wife and little guy visited the office. The office women flocked to see the beauty of the product of my loins, and much new-parental talk ensued. Afterwards, we went to the free Toronto Outdoor Art Expo downtown and it was busy. Once again, a baby catches the eye of many people who would otherwise have no interest, and for good reason. Including that creepy, staring, bag lady in the park.

Babies and puppies too are great pickup tools for guys. Chicks seem to flock to such a public display of cuteness. Of course, if one's wife is on one's arm at the time, the usefulness of this tactic is limited but not entirely negated. A baby is a lot of work and a lot of my free time at home is involved with him since he can't fend for himself. My wife devotes even more time because I'm at work all day. How couples survive with more than one child I cannot fathom without losing my sanity. It's a good thing our guy is so great and easy to get along with. I think the story I told him of the recycling bin for bad babies might have had something to do with it.