Monte

Last night James and I babysat his sister’s three kids: two, seven-month-old twins and one, 7-year-old girl. As soon as their parents left, James and I sat on the couch in the living room with the children at our mercy, and we looked at each other with wide eyes.

The evening went smoother than we had planned, although James did have a little trouble with Julia, one of the twins. She was fussy and wouldn’t finish her bottle. James handed her off to me, and I bounced and cooed her until she quieted down.

When it was time for bed, James had no trouble putting Jacob, the other twin, to bed, but Julia wasn’t quite ready to call it a night. I laid her down inside her crib and picked up one of her tiny stuffed animals, one that jangles when you shake it. I held the tiny animal above her head, gave it a shake, and swooped it down to her chest and jangled it some more. She got a laugh out if it, but as soon as I took the toy away and prepared her for bed, she began to fuss again.

After Jacob dozed off, I asked James to shut the light off. Once he did, I picked Julia’s tiny body up out of the crib and tucked her to my shoulder. I bounced her up and down softly and rubbed her back until she quieted down. After a few minutes, her breathing slowed and turned into a delicate snore. I placed her back down inside her crib, hovered over her, and softly rubbed her stomach until she was fast asleep. Then I took her pink blanket and tucked her in.

My success with Julia amazed me. I have so little knowledge (and fondness) for children, and yet I was still able to somehow soothe a baby to sleep. What did I do differently from James? Why did Julia prefer my stupid little baby talk over James’?

I think last night’s experience coupled with becoming an uncle has opened my eyes to the prospect of someday having children of my own.

Maybe.