Babies are Like Grape Juice

Eventually they'll be good wine, but they're quite tasty now.



After teaching fourth grade, I was convinced that fourth grade is the best age-group to teach. They are just old enough to think creatively on their own, and still young enough to get excited about an adult’s ideas. They are just old enough to be past “cooties” and still young enough not to have B.O. and raging hormones.

As I considered all the different ages, I found myself saying “Four months is the best age”. Luke is at a fun age. He can almost sit on his own, but he still likes to nuzzle his nose into my neck. He is aware enough to be interested in toys, but not yet aware enough to be drawn to “off-limits” things (he couldn’t get to them even if he were drawn to them). He likes colorful gadgets, but can’t yet steal them from other children. He natters on and on, but never complains about what’s for dinner.

Then I began to think about all the things Luke has yet to learn, ways he will still develop, and I thought, “It’ll be nice when Luke eats solid foods. Won’t it be neat to watch Luke crawl? It’ll be fun when Luke can speak. It’ll be great to teach Luke to read. What an amazing experience to watch my little boy learn to use his imagination. How pleasant it will be to throw my son a birthday party with all his friends from school. Luke will be a wonderful big brother.” I even found myself thinking, “And when he gets married - Whoa Laura, let the kid grow up at his own pace.”

I have enjoyed every stage of all of Luke’s four months, and I’m looking forward to the rest of his life, too. But there is no “ideal age”. No, I’ve come to the conclusion that people, like wine, get better, more dynamic and interesting as they age. Sure some people’s kegs are left open and they get musty and moldy instead of enjoyable. But that’s only because they’re left in the back corner in the dark. Luke is out in front, in the light. It is only possible to love Luke more.