Baby Reluctant

My brother told me that it hurts his feelings that I never hold his babies. Never is a bit of an over statement. What isn't to like about babies, the crying, the dirty diapers, the spit up, the drooling. Aside from those things babies are great. However his comment made me think. Is it just his babies?

I have 13 nieces and nephews and the majority of our friends have children and I have come to realize that I don't really hold any babies. It isn't personal. I prefer to admire them at a distance. Is that wrong?

It seems I don't have what other women have, I don't gush over babies, I don't get super excited when someone is pregnant, and I don't approach strangers in the mall to compliment their children. It doesn't even occur to me to do so. And I don't have expectations for anyone to do so with my kids. Yes I held my babies all the time and still do. I love them to pieces. But they are my kids, it's kind of my job.

In my defense some people are just the opposite of me. They love babies, but as those babies grow up they lose interest. Are they criticized for that?

So I'm a little baby standoffish and the magic age seems to be three. I don't see what's wrong with that. My husband told me that if my nieces and nephews had a vote he thinks I would be in the running for favorite. Because I see them for who they are and I genuinely care for each of them. If that is true, I must be doing something right. But who knows, maybe I'm wrong.