I have (had- grew up) 3. They are cute - its a natural defense mechanism so we don't throw them in the bin when they are up at 3am for the 22nd night in a row.
it kind of is, but its instinctual. you suddenly see your own childhood reflected from a new parental perspective, and you suddenly understand countless things you never did. you see yourself as part of a chain of parent/child stretching back a billion years.. you see unspeakable purpose in protecting and nurturing and loving and raising this floppy lump of screaming snot into a future lovable thing. they look like you, with the most innocent eyes, and they can not quite hold up their own head.
Genetical in the sense that you are programmed to behave like that, not in the sense it has to be yours to prompt said response. Paternity fraud is no joke.
I'd 100% ruin a kid's life and my own if I had to take care of one full time. They're not for me I've always known that. I'm much better suited for being the cool aunt
It's crazy how morphed your image of your own child is because there are cute babies, and I thought my first born was one of them. But with a bit distance I can say for sure: he wasn't. He's very handsome now though :)
Haha my coworker told me the same thing, that when her baby came out and she saw her for the first time she couldn't believe how such a beautiful creature could exist, then a few days later she saw the picture and was like that's what she actually looked like?
One of the reasons I DO think babies are cute is that I can walk away when they start making noise, smelling bad, or being generally unpleasant. They’re cute because they’re not my problem!
I dont think Ive ever even pretended to think they are, for me children, especially babies and toddlers, give me a pretty bad case of the uncanny valley effect and look eerie and cause discomfort, as well as anxiety since Im even less sure than usual what they're going to do and dont want someone's kid getting hurt because of something I failed to notice. I dont hold it against them or hate children for it, its not their fault after all, but I do try to avoid being around them where practical.