As parents, we recall all it took to care for our infant children. My father reportedly said as he loaded the car in 1955, “We will go to Duluth again when she can load her own play pen into the car!” The 150-mile trip from Minneapolis to my grandparents’ home in Duluth took 4 hours by highway and loads of equipment.

In the 1990’s, we had a porta-crib, collapsible stroller and diaper genie to make the early months easier. All of which we acquired via in-person shopping. I skipped the heated “baby-wipe warmer” opting for the “baby warner” – “WARNING: here comes a cold baby wipe!”

Parenthood today is on fast-forward when it comes to stuff and interacting. No need for the 150-mile schlep when Skype provides “face-to-face” visits and the stuff of babyhood comes easily with clicks and instant delivery, instead of Saturday morning jaunts to BabyLand.

And what stuff is really needed during the early years is a lot less than what we think.  But most of the stuff  does make parents’ lives easier, allowing more time to love and enjoy a most amazing miracle:  a precious new life.

(S-R archives photo)

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