parentitis, a sensibility disease

You know, there are times in our lives when we make senseless choices. Maybe we guzzled too much cheap beer or actually enhaled that weed. Maybe hormones were making us stupid. Or maybe it was peer pressure -- everybody was doing it!

Or maybe we became parents.

On Sunday, J and I went to the monthly gathering for Central Ohio Families of Latin American Children (COFLAC) and had a great time. While he played on the jungle gym/climbing thingy, I got to have some adult conversation with the other parents. We were talking about work when one of the moms remarked that she went back to work part-time. She said that when they adopted their first child that she left her full-time job to stay home. Then, they realized that since she was staying home anyway that maybe they should go ahead and adopt a second child. She said, "It made no sense: We cut our income in half and more than doubled our debt."

Said that way, she was right. It made no sense. However, as someone who adopted 2 and chose to stay home for awhile, it made perfect sense to me. There is something about being or becoming a parent that seems to encourage us to make choices that others find completely crazy. More than once M and I have made decisions that I am sure have left others scratching their heads. (Like the time we moved to San Antonio without jobs. Or the time we moved to St. Louis without jobs. Or the time we moved to Ohio without jobs. Well, technically Mark had one but it disappeared before we moved and then reappeared later.) And while I would admit that perhaps we could have more money and more stuff and more advanced careers, I am guessing that we wouldn't have the children we have (and perhaps would be child free), wouldn't have lived in different cities, wouldn't now live as close to our friends and families as we do, and would not have experienced the variety and spice of life that we have to this point. Trust me, I will take all of that over the feeling that I didn't follow my heart, my gut, my instincts.

So, if you are a parent or are about to become one and you find yourself making choices that most would consider stupid or insane, don't worry. At some point, you will find yourself making sensible choices again. But, I think there are times in our lives when we are pushed to do things that sound nutty when spoken out loud. As long as you are not under the influence of mind-altering substances, I give you permission to accept the craziness. Follow your heart, your gut, your instincts and give your child some raspberries on the belly. Their laughter will justify it all.

:)