Baby crazy (no, not me)

I work with some incredible people. I have tons of people who have been in the journalism industry for decades. They've uncovered corrupt officials. They've kept people accountable. They have put their personal lives on hold, or sometimes even stopped them, to serve the public.

However, in walks the baby.

Today, our general manager brought his adorable 4-month-old baby into the office. In walks his wife, using one of those nifty baby slings. He had big ol' ears, but was still cute.

The point was:

Up walk all the reporters, producers, news directors, engineers, pretty much anyone with eyes. They "ooo" and "ahh" and say things like "aren't you a cutie patootie." They turn into mush. Absolute mush. These people that file Open Records reports and don't fade when officials try to sue us for all we're worth. They don't shrink down. But, when a human who weighs less than 40 pounds and can't form compound sentences enters our newsroom, it becomes a playschool. Reporters get down on the ground, crawling around on the floor with the toddler, educating them on shapes and colors in the newsroom. They turn soft. It's the weirdest thing in the world.

And, I don't fit in. I'm not good at it. To me, I see the child, acknowledge their presence, and go back to working. I think I suck, possibly.