My daughter recently participated in an Early Childhood Education class project at her high school. As part of the course, she was assigned a RealCare Baby 3 Infant Simulator for the weekend. The simulator was set to activate at 4pm on Friday and deactivate at 8pm on Sunday. Coincidentally, my daughter also caught a head cold during this time. It made for an eventful 52-hour experience. Let me take you through the day-by-day account.

Day 1: On Friday, I received a text photo of my new “grandchild” named Idalia, along with a request to pick them up from the bus stop. Knowing how difficult it can be for parents to handle a car seat, a personal bag, and a diaper bag all at once, I realized the 1/3 mile journey home under the afternoon heat would be challenging. My daughter had also gone to school feeling under the weather and likely needed some assistance. Without hesitation, I was already on the way. The doll was named Idalia, in honor of the hurricane that narrowly missed our area and delayed her arrival by a week.

Once she was safely secured in the car, we drove home to introduce her to the rest of the family. The baby had been scheduled to activate at 4pm, so we had a few moments to prepare. My daughter was excited to show off the cute outfits she had picked out. After that, it was time for our pets to meet the new addition. Our little corgi immediately showed submission by rolling over onto her back. The other pets approached cautiously, sniffing with curiosity. However, they soon realized that something was different. It was almost as if they were thinking, “Why are our humans using fake babies instead of real ones?” This reflection reminded me of my experiences taking care of my siblings and babysitting from a young age, starting at 12 years old. But I digress.

My daughter quickly grew weary from her early wake-up, head cold, bottle feedings, and diaper changes. As they say, “sleep when the baby sleeps.” Thankfully, she managed to catch some rest, although the baby still required attention during a few late-night feedings and diaper changes.

Day 2: Saturday, they woke up a bit later than usual, which was expected for a new “mom”. My daughter took the time to dress her doll in a cute outfit, swaddle her, and put on a hand-crocheted headband. Our plan was to run errands to Walmart and the library. Just as we were ready to leave, with the baby securely strapped into the car seat, Idalia started crying. My daughter had to take the doll out of the car seat, thinking a diaper change was the issue. But it turned out that she needed to be fed for about 20 minutes. I remember those days of rushing everywhere due to unexpected diaper blowouts, impromptu feeding sessions, spit-ups, and outfit changes. Luckily, we had plenty of time on this relaxed Saturday, so I agreed to the delay.

We caught a few glances at Walmart. The cashier seemed to understand what was going on, asking about the class and teacher. She understood the assignment! Interestingly, at the library, Idalia caught the adoring attention of an elderly woman. I don’t think she realized that Idalia was just a doll. It made me feel a bit guilty. After running our errands, with iced coffees in hand, we headed home to tend to more diaper changes, feedings, and late-night cries.

Day 3: Sunday morning, my daughter took baby Idalia to church. During the morning service, the doll had a scheduled “quiet time” which went smoothly. After church, we had lunch together, accompanied by the usual routine of diaper changes, rocking, burping, and feedings. Later in the day, we returned to church for the evening service. Unfortunately, the baby was not in the mood to be quiet and started crying during the prayer time. Despite her efforts, nothing seemed to appease her, and she cried for about 10 minutes. It was a more realistic scenario compared to the earlier quiet time. As the evening approached, my daughter enjoyed some crafting time with her doll before it was time to put the baby to bed. At 7:59 pm, the baby made her final coos before shutting down for good. My daughter rested without any interruptions, although she felt a little sad as the project came to an end. She posted, “I’ll miss my fake baby.”

Concluding Thoughts. My daughter had been warned that one of the participant’s dolls cried 8 times throughout the night. Surprisingly, she found the project to be easier than expected. Despite her neutral feelings towards babies, a nurturing and attentive side of her emerged during this experience. She dedicated time to dress, care for, and even crochet two headbands for the doll. But she still has a long way to go before being ready for parenthood. Her main focus at the moment is pursuing a career as a veterinarian. Nevertheless, I hope that she will look back on this experience fondly when she eventually holds her own, real baby.

I strongly believe that offering this kind of experience to all students is valuable. While I do not advocate for teenage pregnancy, premarital sex, or premature marriages, our societal priorities have noticeably shifted. Young adults today prioritize starting a family later in life, and as a result, we have become more self-centered as a society. Although it may be intended humorously, my oldest daughter once remarked, “Pets are the new children, and plants are the new pets.” This statement, though amusing, does raise concerns about the future of our world. In conclusion, I am grateful that the school provided this experience to broaden students’ perspectives.