Are we high-needs children?

"High-Needs" or "High-Demand" is a fairly common label for many infants. These babies require much more attention from their parents, and are known for being fussy, colicky and easily overstimulated. Despite the fact that they spend a lot of their early months crying, studies show that given the right environment high-demand babies will hit their developmental milestones right with their "easy-going" peers. This is likely to be because high-need babies are held more, rocked more, sung to more, and touched more. In essence, their parents are required to give more in order to meet their demands and help these babies to thrive.

Going through this experience with my son has had me reflecting on my own relationship with God the Father. I often feel "high-needs" when it comes to the faith. I "need" sacraments such as the mass and confession regularly. I constantly fall, and need God's merciful love to pick me back up. I am coming to the conclusion however, that this might not be a bad thing. Some of the greatest saints, such as St. Paul and St. Augustine, were "high-needs". These lost sheep required a immense amount of mercy from our Lord, but their conversions are some of the greatest known to man. Being high-needs provides opportunities for God to constantly pour out his love on us, and guide us closer and closer to Him. My son's need for his parents for his developing mind and body is very good, and our need for God's love for our developing souls is infinitely awesome.