The halls looked a little different this week, as some of BSM’s seniors started carrying around flour babies.

The theology department has a class named Christian Vocations where students study the adult Catholic Christian life. This semester, there are three sections of this class all taught by teacher Matt Brounstein. Around halfway or three fourths of the way through the semester, when the marriage chapter comes up, the class takes on a project called “the flour baby project”.

During the week, students have to take their babies on various outings and spend all day with them in order to reflect on what it is actually like to have your child with you during all times. “Students take the baby out into the real world, so it involves sports, friends, family, relatives, co-workers, etc. We get some really interesting stories and of course a few interesting looks too,” Brounstein said.

The purpose of the project is to bring a real world experience of caring for a newborn to high school students as much as possible in a short amount of time. The duration of the project is usually around one week. “It’s about thinking about a child, caring for a child, the physical demands, the emotional demands, the financial aspect of it…as well as seeing what caring for a child is like in terms of your time…there are a lot of joys but also a lot of adjustments,” Brounstein said.

To start, each student buys a bag of flour, diapers, a bottle, outfit, and a blanket. At the beginning of the week when the project starts, students bring in their babies to get a stamp with the date on it to make sure that this is the baby they use for the whole week. For example, if it “dies” (breaks) a student can’t just make a new one because it doesn’t have a stamp on it. If the baby “dies”, points are lost on the project. This teaches responsibility and character, as students want a good grade on the project. Throughout the project, students have to keep a time chart, keep track of costs/bills, inspection results (in hallways and in class), and reflection questions. At the end of the week, students get a grade, which is based on these factors. “I was worried about my baby dying at the beginning, but now it just makes me keep a closer eye on it so I can get a good grade,” senior Brady Yakesh said.

The vast majority of students really enjoy the project because it is fun to make it their own. “I am loving the project because I got to personalize my baby. I got my baby an outfit and got to choose the name, which I think is really fun and cool to see what everyone makes of theirs,” senior Kiley Trochlil said.

The concept of caring for a baby has taken different forms throughout BSM history, but Brounstein was the teacher who transitioned it to a “flour baby” and he really enjoys it! “I love the project. I think it’s a lot of fun. I get to answer a lot of questions, I get to see kids taking care of kids, and I’m also Child Protective Services occasionally. So, I wear a lot of hats and it’s a blast honestly,” Brounstein said.