Babies

In what was a rare "girl's night out" my friend and I went to go see the new movie "Babies" on Friday night. " I've been so excited to see this ever since I saw the trailer several months ago. I don't really know why... maybe because I have a my own little nursling, because I am mildly obsessed with mothers and babies, or because it is just such an incredible idea to follow four babies from different places in the world through their first year of life.

The movie didn't disappoint me... I LOVED it. I loved watching how different each baby was born into the world-- they only showed snippets of labor for two of the babies but had newborn shots for each of them-- and how different their lives were. I think my favorite baby was the Mongolian baby because he was SO incredibly cute and he had a little brother who was about Asher's age. I felt like I could totally relate to the poor Mongolian mother who had these two crazy babies on her hands. At one point there is a clip of the older Mongolian brother whacking his little baby brother with a scarf. After each hit he stops and looks at the camera to see if he will get in trouble. He doesn't so he keeps doing it. I just laughed and thought "Ha, that is just like my house. I guess toddlers aren't much different in other parts of the world."

In fact, that is what I felt the strongest message of this movie was... that no matter where they live in this world-- be it a mud hut or a 30 story skyscraper-- no matter how they are dressed--- be it naked or in expensive designer clothing-- no matter where they learn to crawl-- be it in the dirt or on carpet-- babies are babies and they each have the same divine potential.

I also found myself feeling such a kinship and connection to the mothers who lived in other parts of the world. I felt that even though we wouldn't be able to speak the same language if we were to meet in real life we would be able to relate to each other. Our children would play together and we would be able to laugh and cry over the same milestones, the same mistakes and the same joys. I realized that no matter how a mother is dressed-- be it topless (like the African mother) or in expensive high heels-- no matter what our daily jobs are-- be it working in an office or milking a cow-- no matter where our children are born-- be it in a home or in the intensive care--- mothers are mothers and we each have the same divine potential and responsibility.

The other things that really struck me about the movie was that the Mongolian and the African baby spent most of their lives outside. There wasn't a clear cut line between "inside" and "outside" and their lives naturally followed into one and out of the other. On the other hand the American and the Japanese babies spent most of their time inside and going to the "outside" was always a big adventure complete with stroller, blankets, shoes and sunglasses. I'm not making a judgment call about which was better but it was very interesting and made me want to make sure my kids get more unscheduled time outside to explore and get dirty.

I also was struck by the fact that the Japanese and American babies didn't have siblings. I know this might just be because these were first children, but I still thought it was interesting and felt that it reflected different mentalities and life styles between the four families.

Everything about this movie intrigued me and if you can believe it this movie made me even more passionate about babies and mothers. I could talk about it for hours... so I better stop now and just say that I loved it and think you might too.