Growing Pains: When in Doubt, Babies Pout

Growing is an exhausting thing. This is very evident with Saydee, the 3-month-old angel of a girl I babysit a couple times a week. She can sleep a whole day, only waking up for a few bottles and a few smiles and a few walks around the backyard. I have never spent so much time with a newborn; what is so great is as I care for her, she is teaching me a lot about all of our necessities for growth. Those include food, sleep, and loving hugs. Every week I come back and notice she has gotten bigger, or is starting to pull hair, or learned how to push her pacifier back into her mouth. Growing is an exhausting thing, so we should give ourselves more credit throughout the process. Four years away at school was an accelerated time of discovery and adventure. Indeed, there was some growth there. Now back at home as the post-graduate who didn't shimmy into the entry-level young professional job (I'd say it's 50/50 amongst my friends), I've got some growing to do myself. So far this process has been complete with nourishing food, plenty of sleep, and the love and support from my family.

Saydee, an angel from heaven

Growing is painful. Saydee doesn't know how to communicate what she needs exactly. She gets confused if she has gas pains or if she is hungry. She wakes up hungry and doesn't want to patiently wait while I warm up her milk. Wow, I can relate. Stuck between committing to a career path and wanting to just go have fun, deciding between taking the higher-paying or more-satisfying job, playing with the dreams of buying and living off a plot of land versus poshly walking the city streets to work, changing my pace to a slower rhythm yet wanting to keep the beat going -- it's all mind-boggling! Whereas I learned much about the world at Berkeley, I am learning more about myself than ever before at home. The journey within can be a painful one, yet well-worth it.

We could learn a lot from how babies pout when in doubt. The pout is a soft wimper that will grow into a full-blown cry if not addressed. Saydee knows something is off, but may not be sure what it is yet. We have each other to lean on and should ask for help when we need it, whether we know exactly what it is we need. I have learned to be more assertive with my needs from good friends like Jenny and Aja. Yet babies go the extra mile and yell it out until they are understood. Food! Diaper change! Hug! Rocking chair! Who knew I could learn so much from a little bright-eyed baby.