What I learned from this project? It's easier to dress a real baby than a bag of flour - more fun, too. Flour babies are a lot less demanding and a lot less fun than real babies - my youngest sibling was born when I was nine and a half, so I can remember when she was younger.
The best part of this project was watching people's reactions to the flour baby, and seeing my mom debating over what we should do with him - like whether we should explain to the people in nursery about the project and they had to treat him like a real infant, or whether he should sit in the pew with my parents (I was acolyting and couldn't watch him). Also, it was nice not to have the amount of demand and responsibility that a real parent would have.
I'm not sure what the hardest part was. This project wasn't as fun as having a child you can interact with, and it's sometimes hard to treat a flour baby like a live infant - like in church, for instance. Either we could've left him in the nursery or brought him up to the altar without being awkward because he's not a real baby.
As a real parent, I would spend a lot more money on my child. Diapers, toys, food, clothing, medical bills . . . all sorts of things. And I would have more responsibility. I would have a lifelong commitment to my child, and I would be responsible for beginning a college savings account. Day to day, I would have more trouble with my child because live infants cry and need things - to be burped or fed, to be rocked and sung to sleep, or whatnot.
To be a real parent, I would need patience, devotion, determination, love for my child. I would need a lifestyle where I could have time to be with my child most of the time, or else afford someone of good quality to babysit - I'd prefer to be with my child myself, though.
I would want my spouse to be patient, understanding, loving, accepting. I would want my spouse to let me stay home with our child when our child was still nursing, and afterwards be able either to stay home with our child himself or else let me keep on staying home with our child. I would want him to spend time with our child, and be a good role model and father.
As a single parent, I would be responsible for being both nurturer and breadwinner - very hard, especially when my child is younger. I really wouldn't want to be a single parent, but if I had to I'd want my child to be older, in school at least. I don't know how I could handle being a single parent with an infant - I'd have to earn the money to provide for my child, but how would I earn the money and still remain with my child?
I will know I am ready to be a parent when I am married and my husband and I have discussed and planned for the possibility of children, and we have agreed we want and can support a child.
If I were to become a parent right now, I couldn't go to college, which I really want to do. I'd have to get a job for less pay somewhere, and I don't know what I'd do with my child when I was at work. Maybe I'd give my child up for adoption - I know I couldn't care for a child on my own at this point in my life. I don't plan to, either - I want to get through college and be married first.
I think I would like to be a parent some day. I love children and babies. But a lot of the choice depends on my husband, too - if he doesn't want kids then I won't try and have any, I'll use contraception. But I don't believe in abortion.
I think I'll be a lot like my parents in my parenting style - I know I'll be asking them for lots of advice, especially my mom. I really respect my mom's parenting style and manner of dealing with kids, and I want to be as much like her as I can. I might change some things, though. Part of my parenting style will depend on my husband as well.
In conclusion, I look forward to having a real baby to play with some day - if not my own child then a niece or nephew or some such. I prefer real children to flour babies, except flour babies are cheaper and easier. I also know that some day I might well be a mother.