The Factor

For anyone whose had the priviledge of having a baby- you know all about the long days, short nights- little sleep, feeding, burping, spit-up, diaper change, feedings, burping, spit-up, diaper change...throw in some loud crying (mostly from the baby- but sometimes your own)...

Most every parent will tell you that parenting is difficult, exhausting, exasperating... but an amazingly wonderful thing! When that little one cuddles in, sleeps in your arms, looks at you with an intensity- studying your face-taking you all in...gives you that sweet smile.... All is worth it!

In our area, the 8th graders get assigned a mechanical 'baby' to which they are assigned to care. Some of these 'babies' are 'crack babies', who require a greater amount of care than the others. Each 'baby' is engineered to periodically need feeding, will cry, and wet. The student must quickly, and gentley, meet the needs of their 'baby'. The student's instructor is able to monitor the 'baby' while it's in the custody of the student. Data is collected on how quickly/efficiently the baby's needs are met. The instuctor can even tell if the student has abandoned or shaken the baby. The student never gets to hear 'their baby' coo, feel 'their baby' cuddle- or see 'their baby' smile at them while looking deeply into their eyes...

A disconnect.

Reminds me of a conversation I had the other day with a gentleman who has a website devoted to young men struggling with the issue of abortion. Yes, men who struggle with abortion. The conversation lent itself to discussing promiscuis sex; and the seemingly related, general disconnect in men when it comes to the reality of life in the womb.

The closest a man comes to this reality is when their wife is carrying within their womb- a child, created out of the union of his own seed. Still, there is a surrealness to it all; only getting more real with seeing their wife's belly begin to buldge, hearing the heartbeat at the doctor's office, first views on ultrasound, feeling the baby's movements when close...

This brings me to wonder~ do these mechanical 'babies' really promote not being sexually active. I doubt it. In 'that moment', I don't think many students are thinking about that mechanical baby. Now, let's say the student is sexually active, and there is a resulting pregnancy- flash back to the 'baby' they had in 8th grade-- lots of work, no reward...it wasn't really a baby...its all so surreal...there is a disconnect from now there being actual life in that womb.

This disconnected view can lead one to thinking it is 'my choice' as to whether to give birth or abort. Most often it is the male encouraging the female to abort; there are times though when a young man discovers their sexual partner aborted his child without even giving him a say... Sadly, many choose to abort--only to be faced with the reality, if not sooner, then later, with the knowledge that indeed: that baby was real...alive!

I admit, this is not necessarily the outcome of using mechanical 'babies' as teaching tools; and it's certainly not that I think the educators have such intentions... But I do believe that many of us parents and educators have much to really think about when it comes to educating our young people about being sexually active/and those choices' consequences. I think many times we concentrate too much on the symptoms and not at the core of the issues of sexual activity and crisis pregnancy...

Disconnect. That is at the core. It is this disconnect from the value of life, consequences and responsibility; these are the core issues which we need most to address with our own children, are daughters and our sons. The earlier, the better.

Practically speaking- we can early on give our sons and daughters the message that they are valuable; and as appropriate to age, be open and honest about the seeds of life which live in them...and about the virtue of chastity/purity. We must model and teach that to 'be a man' isn't about using a single organ of the male anatomy...And to model to our young ladies that beauty is more than skin deep- and to be considerate of the men around them and dress in such a way as to not encourage them to stumble sexually in their mind or body... Perhaps instead of students having mechanical 'babies'- your family could offer to babysit, or spend time with a family who has a real baby...

Where does it really begin, to turn this sexually active/irresponsible trend in our young people around? It begins with the adults- being willing to inconvenience themselves, perhaps be in awkward discussions with their children- being willing to be involved- not leave these important lessons up to strangers.

There are children dying out there. Many dying needlessly on altars of ignorance and convenience. There are wounded people out there with empty arms- and ones praying to adopt a baby. It is time to find ways to connect young men and women with the value of life.