To burden a child with our love
144 words
The baby was peaceful and heavy as she fell asleep in my arms; I felt awed.
Was it just a biological reaction, or is there truly some unadulterated love emanating from a sleeping baby?
It’s true I am suspicious of the logic behind procreation— what could be more demonstrative of humanity’s destructive global takeover than a brand new, wadded up person, expanding into the world— and yet, perversely, the weight of a sleeping baby feels pure. Though I don’t want to give birth, I am not beyond bathing in such perverse purity.
Even in the rare moments when this baby whined, I thought she was clearly trying to repress her pain— yet it’s also true that we project our grown-up neurosis so wildly and unapologetically onto the young.
It is one of the most important reasons adults need to burden children with our love.