^{Originally published on BabyCenter.com January 24, 2014}

My wife had a singing engagement, so I was left alone with two kids who took turns crying for two and a half hours straight.

Uncontrollable sobbing is a good way to make a parent feel useless, especially in men since we lack the magic boobies that calm infants down. But in the end, it’s not that big a deal.

I’ve heard a lot of stories about fathers being uncomfortable when left alone with their infants, or mothers being hesitant to leave the kids alone with their husbands because they cry so much. It seems to me like that attitude ignores one very important fact: babies tend to cry. Sometimes, they cry a lot.

I’m not saying it’s no big deal when a baby cries. Usually, it’s because they want something. However, as much as it sucks to be in a situation where you can’t stop your child from crying, it’s not worth getting traumatized about. A couple nights after the marathon crying session, I was left alone with my daughter again and she had nothing but smiles for me. Moods change quickly, especially when kids are involved.

In my opinion, there’s a lot of benefit to toughing out a bad crying episode and coming back for more. It’s good for the pain threshold and is a good way to build up discipline so you’re less likely to do something you’ll regret later, such as yelling at the child – which won’t stop the kid from crying but will make you feel like a louse when your head clears.

It also helps to contrast with the peaceful moments you get later on so you appreciate them more. And, possibly most importantly, it’s bonding time. Time spent tolerating a shrieking child is still time spent with your child. The way you tolerate the noise helps influence the way the baby sees you as a parent.

In a perfect world, your baby never cries. And yes, there are times when it’s best just to hand the kid over to mommy. But guys, don’t get discouraged if you have a bad experience holding your baby. And ladies, please don’t start thinking you can’t trust your husbands to take care of the kids. Going through the rough times will bear fruit down the road.

_{Featured Image: Sarah Brooks}