"I remember leaving the hospital - thinking, 'Wait, are they going to let me just walk off with him? I don't know beans about babies! I don't have a license to do this.' We're just amateurs"

In this quote by Anne Tyler, the speaker is reviewing the profound and typically overwhelming experience of becoming a brand-new moms and dad. Leaving the hospital with a newborn for the first time is a substantial moment, filled with both excitement and uneasiness. The speaker's awe at being enabled to "simply walk off" with their baby records the abrupt shift in duty that occurs when medical facility care ends and parental tasks begin.

The phrase "I don't understand beans about infants" highlights the speaker's feeling of unpreparedness and vulnerability. Regardless of any preparation or reading that might have happened ahead of time, the reality of caring for a newborn often feels overwhelming. This belief is common among new moms and dads, who might feel an intense awareness of their own lack of experience and the weight of the duty now on their shoulders.

The statement "I do not have a license to do this" highlights the notion that parenting, unlike many other considerable life roles, does not require official credentials or training. This lack of a concrete credential emphasizes the reality that parenting is a deeply personal journey that includes learning and adapting on the fly.

Lastly, the expression "We're just novices" talks to the universal experience of entering the unknown. No matter just how much suggestions one looks for or the number of books one checks out, the unforeseeable nature of raising a kid implies that moms and dads are constantly learning and progressing along with their kid. This recommendation of inexperience can foster a sense of camaraderie with other parents, as they all navigate the very same unpredictabilities.

Tyler's quote encapsulates the bewildering mixture of awe, anxiety, and humility that characterizes early being a parent. It advises us that despite our drawbacks and worries, the journey of parenting is among development, finding out, and, ultimately, love.