Comments | dairygirl: Legacies

dairygirl

Legacies

Dec 30, 2004 23:17

Following the long traditions of Catholic farm families, I have two sisters-in-law who are currently pregnant. That will bring the niece/nephew total to 5 in the span of 3.5 years. Of course, this could have started sooner, but I am not interested. Cats are more than enough for me and as noisy as I complain they can be, children have an infinite ( Read more... )

Comments 5

I understand... the_agora January 20 2005, 16:15:45 UTC

I have a niece who I love dearly, but sometimes I feel so relieved when she goes home. When I informed my parents I probably wouldn't be joining the parenting community, my mother jumped into a mile long lecture how every woman is responsible for having a least one child.
Of course their is everyone else my age, who are having children or married (another thing I am wondering if it is for me) who wonder if their is something wrong with me because I'm really not interested.
*groans*
So, lets just say I understand.

Re: I understand... dairygirl January 21 2005, 03:20:54 UTC

Ooh--that lecture from your mom about the obligations of every woman must have been painful. That is one thing I can say I am glad about--I have not gotten a guilt trip conversation. Still, my parent's appreciate can be almost as painful as indirect as it is. I cannot say I agree about being responsible for having at least one child. What was her reasoning for it?

As for the marriage thing, yeah, I'm off that wagon as well. It is an archaic (if ever changing) way of life. I do not want to be someone's wife, change my name and have everyone ask me "so when are you having children?" I believe a commitment is ultimately between the two people who choose to be with each other (not really into polyamory) and so is private. There is too much abuse and less than pleasant history wrapped up in marriage (women as property for example).

Okay, end rant mode. Still, I was glad you responded to this!

My mothers logic... the_agora January 23 2005, 17:14:45 UTC

Three reasons why my mother says that a woman should have children...
1. Health- Common arguement- My mother says that it's healthier for a woman to have one child rather then none. Says it balances out the hormones. I don't know...I have just stopped asking.
2. Passing along your gene- Overused arguement- You don't want to die and have no one remember you, do you? I said yes once...once.
3. THE MOST OBVIOUS BUT UNSPOKEN ARGUEMENT- You've had one already, why not give them a brother or sister...:sigh:
SannM

I've heard those before dairygirl January 27 2005, 02:40:01 UTC

From a health perspective, there is a viable argument. I received my graduate degree in oncology (cancer biology) and that was one thing I did learn. Having children would mature breast tissue and at least during nine months, there was not the same up and down of the hormones (e.g., menstruation) in the body. However, the greatest benefit was seen in women under 20. Not sure I want to encourage teenagers to have children for a health boost. And after age 30, there is no benefit at all. Probably WAAYY more than you needed to know, but I could not help using a bit of knowledge that rarely sees the light of day ( ... )

Thread 5