Babies…man oh man do I love me some babies. Every job I’ve had has been with kids, and even when I’m not at work, you can usually find me around some kids. I’ve realized here in Uganda, I have a baby obsession. Ok, I didn’t realize it here, I’ve always known it, but I guess you can call it more of a baby boldness. Let me explain. Being black in Africa is amazing, especially when it comes to babies. Some babies here are terrified of “monos” (White/American people) because they’ve never seen one. We were informed of this from the very beginning, so when one of my teammates walks up to a kid and tries to hold them or shake their hand and they start screaming, they just move on to the next kid. I on the other hand, see it as prime time to swoop on in and see if I can have better luck. Seven times out of ten, it’s in my favor and the kid will usually come to me. I usually have the upper hand until I start talking, or stare at them too long and they realize I too, am a mono. I just love the freedom here to walk up to a mother/sibling holding a baby and just extend my arms and be handed a child.
In a sense I feel like holding babies here is an obligation…something I have to do. Just knowing that the moment you are holding them may be the longest span of attention they’ve been shown in a while. Knowing that they may not of experienced love like that ever before. Knowing that they might not see a smiling face, be kissed, or told “I love you” on a daily basis breaks my heart and makes me want to gather up all the babies and just hold them. While I know that’s not possible, I do what I can with the opportunities I get. Wherever we are, I do a baby scan and look for one I can hold and in that moment, I pour out as much love as I can on that baby. Even if it is just for a moment, I walk away knowing I did all I could, and that that baby knew they were loved in that moment, and I pray that’s not the last time they will know that.
