Some time ago I read the book Teaching Natural Birth. In it, the author shares this thought about the importance of teaching families about birth:

“We are not ‘hobbying’ or ‘playing house.’ We do this not because we like people or like babies, but because there are earthshaking issues involved in the way our culture is giving birth and raising its children…We are playing for keeps and the stakes are high. We are professionals. We matter. Always and indescribably.”

I do not view my birthwork as a “hobby.” I view it as my career/profession. I have noticed a tendency of people outside the “birth world” to look upon it as a hobby however. Reading this quote was a nice reminder that this work is important!