But like
Why do we imagine ancient humans living in hunter gather societies as being more likely to have an animalistic view of raising children?
Why do we think survival of the fittest would be a common attitude?
On a surface level I understand why. The “best” children would be more likely to do well, but like childbirth and pregnancy is extremely difficult and taxing now with all the medical advancements of modern society. Imagine the toll it would have taken to bear a child.
Imagine the aches and pains of your body shifting to make space for a fetus. Imagine being unable to walk due to a bladder infection or your baby pressing against your spine. Imagine childbirth, with no way to numb the pain or provide relief from the discomfort. With no way of knowing if you will survive this agony.
And then
A child. A tiny living creature, who cries, but calms in your arms. It can’t walk, it can’t speak and it needs you to care for it, even as you heal from the labor. It can cry and it does and eventually it can smile and laugh and embrace you. It can seek you out for comfort. It can ask you questions and show you the things it has discovered and learned.
And you are it’s teacher and it’s guard and it’s entertainer and it’s love.
And it laughs when you make faces. It laughs till it’s stomach hurts. It screams with glee when you chase after it and squeals with excitement when you catch it. It cry’s when you scold it and when it’s afraid and in both cases it comes to you to calm down.
It looks to you, always. Would you not do everything in your power to protect it? No matter what?
I think you would. I think we did.
I don’t think we would love so hard if we didn’t.
