The Power of Babies

The Power of Babies

I can still remember hearing the rumble of the garage door closing despite my groggy state. I grabbed some shoes and tumbled through the kitchen, flung the door open, and re-opened the garage door. The engine was warming up in the driveway. "Wait," I called out frantically. "I'm coming with you!"

It was nearly 2 a.m. on Saturday, April 3, 1999, and my parents were about to go to the hospital. Five years later my memory of that day hasn't faded. At thirteen and a half, I would soon become what I'd always dreamt of being: a big sister.

Excruciatingly long, cold hours in St. David's Hospital seemed to melt away at exactly 10:00 in the morning when my little brother, Alvand Kia Moini, was finally born. Nervous and jittery, I recall holding him for the first time and being the first person to ever see his beautiful brown eyes open to the world. Whenever asked about the best day of my life, I always recount this story.

Clearly, my brother claims a huge portion of my heart. His importance in my life began even before he was born,though. After more than thirteen years of living with just my mom, dad, and cat, I felt more than ready for this exciting addition to my life. Because I anticipated my brother's birth so much, it was very important to me to be involved. From the time I learned my mother was pregnant, I immersed myself in Baby World. I soaked up information from a myriad of baby books, countless websites, Parent magazine, and the like. I knew what items we would need and accompanied my mother on every shopping trip to get everything from the perfect bib to crib liners and safety locks. We visited at least 15 day-care facilities around our home in anticipation of his fi...

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...r. My constant devotion to caring for him makes such acts beyond even myown realization.

I had often debated whether or not I wanted to have kids when I got older. While I can't predict the future, I do know now that I have the desire to have children. My dad always joked that one child (Alvand) was enough for me, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Children bring a new perspective into one's life. They open you up to a unique way of thinking and make you take into consideration what you had always thought was superfluous or unimportant. It is incredible that a baby's critical learning period likewise incites a period of growth in their caretakers. Responsibility and love for a child force us to go beyond ourselves. We must learn to expect the unexpected and prepare for any situation, and life's sweetest gift fills the moments in between.