Working with infants is tiring.

It is not for the faint of heart, to say the least, and it is a brand new experience for me.

To make a complicated story short, I have a new teacher working with me, and if it were not for this angel, I am not sure I would have made it this long. I questioned my life choices and wondered if I heard from God, but I knew I did…

Babies are entirely dependent on adults. They cannot do anything for themselves or tell you if something is wrong, requiring undivided attention. They need routine and consistency and have dealt with subs, hurricanes, change after change, and …me since August.

I am not a mother but can testify that taking care of babies can be a “thankless” job. I say that because they cannot speak, so they cannot say thank you. It’s constant giving, eating, sleeping, diaper changing, rinse and repeat. However, I learned it is not thankless, and all the frustration goes away with the tiniest baby giggle. Seriously, nothing is better than that.

I’ve finally conditioned them to recognize one of my favorite childhood songs, “Skinnamarink” from the 1990s show The Elephant Show with Sharon, Lois, and Bram. (Don’t worry… it’s included at the bottom…). When the song plays they automatically turn to me knowing I’ll be singing and dancing telling them “I. LOVE. YOU.”

My class consists of five infants who are between the ages of five and eight months old. Two of my oldest babies will be transitioning into the older class in a few short months, and starting this month, we have a set of seven-week-old twins once a week. Yes, you read that correctly.

They came for the first time this past Wednesday, so my two older spent the day with the older class. My class shares a half wall with that older class, and in the afternoons, we open the door, and everyone plays together. Wednesday afternoon I walked in the other classroom and sat down on the carpet. I did not think much of it when my two babies crawled to me in my lap, and both hugged me, and I completely melted. I think we get caught up in the surviving mode and do what we are supposed to do that we don’t realize they see and appreciate us. My initial thought to one of them was, “I didn’t even think you liked me?!?”.

Children are sincere, and I think their actions speak louder than anything.

My sweet babies crawled across the room to hug me.

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you…” – 1 PETER 5:6-7