I don't know where it comes from.  It makes no sense to me whatsoever.  Why is it that so many fawn so much over so useless a lump of flesh?  Newborns and infants?  I've seen them, I've held them, heck, I've even had a few of my own, and I can unequivocally say:

Human beings are a waste of time for the first six months of life. 

If you want to be cynical, of course, you can go on to state that most (or all, if you're feeling particularly anti-humanity today) human beings are a waste of time for far more than the first six months.  I'm not here to go that far.   But I am willing to trot out another sacred cow and kick it around a bit.  Why not?  I've already trashed ketchup, margarine, and the idea of a protectionist economy.  So let's get down to business.  For the first six months of life, a baby's day is primarily consumed with the four basic functions of life:

	Eating
	Sleeping
	Eliminating waste
	Little else

Ironically, the sleeping is most often done during the day, when you're most likely to want to spend time with the child.  Most demands for food  occur between the hours of when you go to bed and when you have to get up and go to work.  Waste elimination is an ongoing project, and can occur from either end without warning.  So the youngster, while adding nothing of value to your daily routine (unless you count soiled diapers as valuable),  does manage to add a rather severely inconvenient crimp in you sleep patterns.   And a rather serious dent in your budget (those diapers cost big bucks).   And all for what?  I can hear it already..."but they're so cute!"  Bah!

Have you ever looked at a newborn?  I mean really, objectively looked?  Newborns resemble nothing so much as weazened little space aliens on too much valium.  They are unattractive, and they sleep most of the time.  They have no control of their limbs, and have to depend on gas to muster up anything even faintly resembling a smile.  The y are often bald, frequently drool, and it is not in the least unusual for a tot to return the contents of his stomach to the light of day, all over your favorite article of clothing.  Where does the cute part come in again?  I think I may have missed it.  

Having said all that, I'd still rather have a child than a dog.  At least a child will eventually learn how to use the toilet.