Having a Third Child
Pamela Paul wants a third child.
Writing in the Washington Post about her desire to have a “sprawling” family like the one she grew up in—“with seven brothers, real and step”—Paul mused about the high cost of raising a child these days: $204,060 according to a new federal estimate.
In many expensive American cities and suburbs, Paul noted, a third child has become “an ostentatious display of good fortune,” on behalf of the decreasing number of parents who can afford to feed, clothe, and educate the “luxury good” known as baby number three.
But while Paul considered the economic impact of having a third child, some irate readers excoriated her about what they say is the environmental impact of a bigger family.
“The oceans are dying, the oil is almost gone,” wrote one reader. “Large families are criminally irresponsible in such a desperate time.”
“More than two kids per couple means you are not just replacing yourself on the planet,” wrote another. “You are claiming more of the Earth’s resources for your family simply because it will be ‘fun.’”
Selfish…stupid…killing the planet with your overproduction of children. The baby shower of criticism stunned Paul, who wondered in a follow-up article why she—who viewed herself as a responsible mother who recycled, conserved water, and didn’t even have a car—was being accused of “destroying” another mother: Earth. “Golly,” Paul wrote. “I’m not even pregnant yet.”
“The days of big families should be over,” responded a critic. “Get a dog from an animal shelter instead.”
Tell us what you think: Do you believe that having a third child brings the pitter-patter of little feet, or the destructive carbon footprint of the future? When it comes to having more children, is three an irresponsible crowd?
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mother of a large family
Our country is dying from underpopulation. Once the boomers have fully retired we do not have enough of a work force to support the population. The same is happening in Japan, Europe and all over the world. We have plenty of resources to support large families….and children do grow up to become the scientists and genuises who develop new technologies to make the world an amazing place to live.
Malthius and his over population theories was disapproved long ago. Do the math on the population and the amount of land in the United States….the population of the WORLD can easily fit into several of our STATES…We are not overpopulated!
jill farris | 5 months, 2 weeks ago
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To breed or not to breed...
Personally, I don’t feel comfortable getting in to bed with total strangers.
We don’t have the right to control this function of another human being. It’s like trying to control how frequently others go to the bathroom at home. You can tell them not to do it at certain times, you can tell them not to do it in public places, but in private this is a physical and personal process that the world doesn’t get to be involved in.
Me personally I top out at 3 for kids (due to physical and genetic issue, some say I shouldn’t even do that as these same issues will hurt my babies), but since I’m a Catholic I know people with 14 kids (actually among traditional Catholics and the Amish 4 to 8 is about the average range, mostly because when you let God pick the number of babies he usually goes high) I don’t have a problem with this. I don’t have a problem with you not having kids. I think you might live to regret it (Who will care for you when you are older? Who will keep your family names alive? Who will pass on your genes into the future, so that a part of you will mix with all that has yet to be? Children allow us to make an indelible mark and contribution to all the things that we will never see. Who will make your mark?), but as I always say Viva la difference! Just stay out of other peoples beds!
Wondering Wander | 5 months ago
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BOYS
HI MY NAME IS BOB GIVE ME SOME TIPS ON how i should raise my three boys they wont pay attetion and my wife is never home
BOB JEAN LAGUNA | 5 months ago
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Not buying ZPG!
Zero population growth made no sense to me before I had children, and it makes even less sense to me now. We have four children, and I wanted more. Why should I not raise more than two intelligent, well educated, kindly people who can make a difference in this world? People who care for others, support charities, vote in elections? People who care about their mother and father, and each other? Don’t tell me how many children I should have, just because your idea of being politically correct is different from mine. I’m betting that a wealthy couple with no children at all can pursue a lifestyle that uses more resources than our whole family put together.
Helen Bratzel | 4 months, 3 weeks ago
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Having a Third Child?
In my opinion i believe that if a couple wants to have more than one kid,then they should.I think that when a couple decides to raise children then they should raise them to be responsibie i say this because i agree with everyone else and what they are saying there are a lot of kids being raised to be irresponsibbie.
DaNashia Moncrief | 4 months, 3 weeks ago
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Cost to Society
What about school taxes?
As a person with no children, I do not think that families are due the right for a public education for a unlimited number of children. Why can’t families pay extra taxes to cover the third child and upward. Private schools also could be a option for excess children.
William Morton | 4 months, 1 week ago
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I think I can have how ever many kids i want and i
I plan on having seven children. i dont think that we should be limited to two? thats dumb………
Jessica B. | 4 months ago
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having 3 kids
That’s a bunch of bull! I have 3 kids and no one is gonna tell me I couldn’t have another! People that think like that quite frankly don’t need to be parents! They should be the ones getting dogs! China might at this moment be overpopulated but the limit of offspring will eventually mean the death of that nation! It’s not selfish to have more than two kids! Your family size should be your decision, the same as you don’t want anybody telling YOU who you can or can’t marry!
crissy | 3 months, 4 weeks ago
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not overpopulated with children like mine...
I am a father of 8 children. The ninth will be born in May of 2010. What I notice about a family of 11? I notice that they learn to do without. They learn the importance of taking care of what they have. They understand economy. They know what it is to do without and share what they have. The problem with the world today is not that there are too many people…the problem is that everyone believes they need a car, they need their own room, they need their own house. In essense, too many chasing to few resources. It is these “small families” of today that are driving us to ruination. They justify their behaviour based on the size of their families. They drive large vehicles and put 3 people in a car that fits 7. They think nothing of it.
For those that believe the world is overpopulated, do us all a favor and commit suicide. Be done with it all. You probably need to go. Those of us that make livings, contribute to society, plan our large families out of love, and pay our own way need not apologize for our existence…we CELEBRATE it! :)
Pax et bonum!
ronald spomer | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Pregnant with my 2nd, want more tho
Way back when, it was expected that you grew up and had kids, now a days, there’s a lot less pressure to create a family and more pressure on women to go to school. I’m just making up for what other people aren’t producing… We’re going to move into town so when the kids get older, we can walk to the market, butcher shop ect. I plan on buying fabric to make pajamas and making bread every week and soups for meals instead of wasting products. (i’m personally hoping for 4, I have a 9 month old baby girl now, and I am 6 months pregnant with my second) As far as people having children and it being over-populated, why don’t they just keep the mexicans on the other side of the boarder and let them die of disease to keep the populations down instead of letting them sneak over the boarder, planting a seed and staying here using up resources. The illegal immigration is tampering with natural selection! People should be able to have as many kids as they want in America, we’re not China, we don’t have to stop at one and it shouldn’t be that way!
Stephanie C | 3 months, 2 weeks ago
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