More babehs

[theatokos]

I want more babies. Two weeks after bringing B home I was already thinking about when to have the next one. Bennett is the easiest baby ever and I think it might be slightly false advertising. He's chill, can be taken anywhere and sleeps through the night. I realize I have been spoiled by the baby gods, but I accept this as making up for that month in the NICU.

A big dilemma for me has been about spacing. Three years apart? Less than two? What if I really truly do want three kids? Adam asked me a very clarifying question: do I really want to be pregnant again? Oh boy. Nope. Not right now. Sure don't want to be pregnant. We agreed that when I can think about being pregnant without a sigh of resignation or weary dismay, then we'll think about getting pregnant again.

***
Last week I got an email from some one vaguely in my social circle. In some ways she was saying "I support you in your call to have a child" but she mostly was granting us permission to breed "as long as you don't have more than two." She has problems with children; she thinks the world needs fewer humans, more animals and plants.

The world does need fewer stupid people. (And fewer greedy, ignorant, mean people, too.)

I realized I used to think this way too (short of people needing my blessings on their reproductive choices). Now, though, I think that a family of 10 could conceivably live much gentler on the earth than a family of 3. Think of all those 2.5 kid families out there, commuting in their SUVs, lawns with pesticides and wasteful water uses, eating fast food, not recycling, buying loads of stuff, etc etc. Those people have a much heavier footprint than a family growing their own produce, cloth diapering, not owning a car, etc etc.

My issues with large families stem from an inherent distrust of the patriarchal construct usually associated with religions and cultures that encourage lots of children. But they aren't the devil in and of themselves. I wish my family was bigger.

Comments

[said-by-me.livejournal.com]

B is cute enough that I grant you guys permission to "breed" again

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you! One blessing down, 49 more to go....

[its-justwho-iam.livejournal.com]

Alex and Freedom would approve too so there are 2 more ;)

[hrafntinna.livejournal.com]

A family of 10 living on the earth more gently on the earth than a family of 3 is called a kibbutz.

:)

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Ha!

[ambar.livejournal.com]

I will quite cheerfully give you my baby license. :-)

[livingdeadpan.livejournal.com]

We're already pretty sure we want to try for a 3rd someday, but "someday" - two-three years - seems pretty far off, even though it really isn't.

But yeah, I feel no guilt bringing new babies into the world, when they're the product of me and the missus. :D

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Adam and I are hoping that we'll have twins next. A boy and a girl. Then we'll call it quits!

just because we only have one child

[(Anonymous)]

not all small families are suv-obsessed, fast-food quaffing, suburb-dwelling, overscheduled, water-wasting, lawn-loving, materialists.

some of us live simply, and are probably almost as perfect as you.

Re: just because we only have one child

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Whoa. I have no idea who you are but I was making a vast generalization. Just like there are plenty of hippies in name only. I come from a small family, as do most everyone I know. In fact, some of my best friends are only children...

I really don't understand how you could have misconstrued this.

But I like that you recognized my perfection.

[inkprincess.livejournal.com]

my first was an absolute dream baby...my 2nd, nowhere near that.LOL. very false advertising!!!

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Adam was the dream baby and his younger brother was the hellion. Broke his leg at 18 months by climbing a bookshelf, or something outrageous like that.