My Day with Peach

Having been involved in applying for the grant which enabled us to purchase our new resources library, I felt a sense of responsibility when our new baby simulator (now named Peach) finally arrived. It was this feeling of responsibility which caused a rare lapse in judgement and led me to agree to take Peach for a 24 hour trial. Instantly realising that I’d made a mistake, but accepting that it was important to trial the baby before we handed her to our children, I came to terms with the fact that a sleepless night was ahead.

After a colleague had kindly, or not so kindly as it turned out, programmed Peach I collected her and began my 24 hours of torment. Being a typical man, and not reading the instructions before picking her up my first experience of Peach crying was a stressful one - I say crying, but the actual sound would better be described as an inhuman ear-drum shattering screech.

Having worked out the more technical aspects of the simulator I soon got into the routine which I’m sure will be very familiar to all parents - feeding, burping, rocking and changing the nappy. Peace and quiet once more returned to my office for a good…four minutes!

The afternoon flew by in a series of nappy changes, feedings and the occasional burping and soon the moment I had feared most was approaching. Having heard Peach crying in the relatively open space of my office, the thought of her crying in the very confined environment of my car whist I was driving was more than a little concerning. However, my fears came to nothing as Peach remained quiet, preferring instead to strike at an equally inconvenient time…dinner time.

Whist not enjoying my lightly charred and barely warm dinner I started to feel more than a little resentful of my new high maintenance housemate. Not being one to give up when the going gets tough, and not having the key to remove her battery pack, I conscientiously continued in the now familiar routine of feeding, burping, rocking and changing the nappy.

Perhaps the most important lesson I learned about dealing with a baby came as I settled down to sleep and discovered that it’s virtually impossible to relax when you know that at any moment you might hear that cry which signals you to action. I found this was the hardest thing about the whole experience.

With the biggest hurdle over and a fairly smooth morning, I handed Peach back and received my report. It’s an odd thing to say but I was strangely proud that whilst in my care Peach didn’t suffer any mishandling or head trauma.

I have to admit that I found my 24 hours with peach incredibly interesting. Although no simulator could every truly recreate the experience of looking after a baby, I’m confident that Peach will give all our young people a taste of the realities of parenthood.