What is a Gurgling?

Making the Connection with a Gurgling:

There is a point in time where child meets parent for the first time in an understanding and a shared appreciation of who's in charge.

When a baby is born out of love, with mutual consent and is awaited with great anticipation, there is always a need to connect and always a point of connection.

Whether it's birthed out of some genetic impulse to procreate, a desire to further lineage or even an egotistical attempt at artistic achievement, we still feel it's worth nine months
of waiting to count toes and fingers and begin sharing love as a family.

For the first years of its young life, a baby is the recipient of much love, care and attention, much like a prized, high maintenance play-toy. In return you get peed on, barfed on, crapped on, rude burps, wet farts and the honour of riding the red eye rocker most every night. Being dictated to by a gurgling, whose demanding cries could pierce armour, but whose vulnerability and dependence assured an immediate place in your hearts.

If I recall correctly I had just turned three years old when I awoke one morning, afraid and oh, so curious. I recall saying to myself, 'What’s happening? What am I doing here? Where is here? Am I a boy or a girl?’ Why am I in a cage? Maybe I’m a lion!

I toddled my way downstairs to the kitchen, because I somehow knew instinctively that this was where you went when you were hungry. Who were these large, but similar creatures sitting at the table? Why were the words, 'Hi Mommy...Hi Daddy', exiting my throat?

Well, it hit me like a ten-pound rattle! These were the ones that ordered me! It all started to make sense now. The gray areas were quickly disappearing and my brain was finally kicking in!

My parents saw the curious look in my eyes and were quick to make the realization that I had finally put two and two together and successfully completed the puzzle that led to my first memory. There were tears in their eyes as they picked me up and said ‘He made it!
He made it!' That was my first indication I was a boy. Why were they so surprised? If it were me, I would have sent me back, marked 'Defective', long before this.

It was some time later, when my parents were showing my baby pictures to visiting relatives, that it struck me, 'There was life before three!' They kept saying my name and pointing to various pictures. Was that bald, prunish gurgling really me? Damned if I could remember!

It was about this time that I was able to begin returning love and start respecting and fearing my parents. They were huge! I also realized I was able to stock pile thoughts. I never knew what was going to happen tomorrow, but I always remembered yesterday. Today? Today was like an unrehearsed play!

© Dan Blix