Keeping the baby alive

I was in my Weight Watchers meeting today (yes, I'm a 28-year-old male in Weight Watchers...wanna fight about it?) and we were talking about how responsibilties change over time and how you learn to watch and account for yourself. My group leader asked me this question.

"Chris, you're about to have a baby, right? What do you think the role of a parent is for a child from 0-3 years old?"

I was stumped. I've never really been one who thinks quickly on my feet...so I just said the first thing that came into my head.

"To make sure they survive beyond that age..."

Everyone laughed at first, but then she went on to talk about it a bit and really her summation of taking care of a baby more or less came down to making sure it is doesn't die. There was more to it than that, something about a blur of diaper changing and sleepless nights of lying awake listening to a baby monitor to make sure it is still breathing. But regardless of what anyone says, that's basically what it boils down to.

And that, in a way, is why I'm not really worried about becoming a parent. If all I have to do is keep it breathing, then it should be a breeze, right? Something like eighty percent is gonna be instinct anyway and the rest I figure I can just learn along the way.

Chris