The long lifespan of a parrot is not in and of itself a problem. In fact, that is what we as owners would hope for. This fact is important because it so profoundly effects all other considerations in owning a parrot. Parrots are often compared to a 2 year old child in regard to the amount of time, attention, and work that they require and demand. Believe me, that is a valid comparison. However, these "2 year olds" never grow up! Are you ready to spend 1 - 3 hours or more feeding, cleaning up after, and socializing with your parrot EVERY DAY for the next 20- 80 years? Can you cope with that noise for the rest of your life? What about the mess? The parrot's long lifespan will be a recurring theme throughout this section because commitment is what we are talking about here. If you are not able to make a life-time commitment to your bird, you should do yourself and the bird a favor by looking elsewhere for a pet.