--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The psychic said I would have two…" description: "\"“The psychic said I would have two children. This makes me shake my head. I know you are not supposed to leave a baby alone. Not even for a minute. But..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31c/amy-hempel-6636_baby_the-psychic-said-i-would-have-two-childr_382081.jpg" --- # The psychic said I would have two children. This makes me… ![“The psychic said I would have two children. This makes me shake my head. I know you are not supposed to leave a baby alone. Not even for a minute. But after a while I think, What could happen to a baby in the time it would take for me to run to the corner for a cappuccino on the go? So I do it, I…” quote by Amy Hempel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31c/amy-hempel-6636_baby_the-psychic-said-i-would-have-two-childr_382081.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31c/amy-hempel-6636_baby_the-psychic-said-i-would-have-two-childr_382081.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31c/amy-hempel-6636_baby_the-psychic-said-i-would-have-two-childr_382081.jpg) > ““The psychic said I would have two children. This makes me shake my head. I know you are not supposed to leave a baby alone. Not even for a minute. But after a while I think, What could happen to a baby in the time it would take for me to run to the corner for a cappuccino on the go? So I do it, I run to the corner and get the cappuccino. And then I think how close the store is that is having the sale on leather gloves. Really, I think, it is only a couple of blocks. So I go to the store and buy the gloves. And it hits me--how long it has been since I have gone to a movie. A matinee! So I do that, too. I go to a movie. And when I come out of the theater it occurs to me that it has been years since I have been to Paris. Years. So I go to Paris, and come back three months later and find a skeleton in the crib.”” [Amy Hempel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hempel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator rationalizes neglectful behavior by chaining small indulgences, illustrating how minor justifications can lead to catastrophic outcomes. **In simple terms:** Small excuses can snowball into disaster. Key Takeaway Watch for patterns of rationalizing neglect. Themes responsibility self‑control consequences denial Mood cautionary introspective Type ethical psychological When to use this quote - parenting decisions - time management - impulse control - risk assessment Key Concepts behavioral psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What small habit could be masking a larger risk? - How can you interrupt a cascade of rationalizations? A Different Perspective The narrative exaggerates for effect; real life may not follow such a chain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm psychic," she said, and looked at me looking nervously at the lock. "Psy chic. Not pshy cho . 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