I have said before that I can't stand the use of the word 'family' to mean 'children' - as in, family entertainment or a family room in a pub. I see this as just spin by advertisers/marketers. cynically pushing the right buttons to increase their profits.
I have also ranted before about people who believe that their status of parents makes them either morally superior or above the norms of society. And that those without children are somehow dysfunctional.
I get fed up by people who randomly produce sprogs with little thought to the consequences, and expect me to pay for their carelessness.
Listen here. I have a few more words. If you conceive and bear a child it shows no skill or ability on your part - just a happenstance of nature. Obnoxious or inappropriate behaviour is not justified because 'they're only playing' (also a common excuse by dog owners). Selfish behaviour, endangering the lives, safety or environment of others is not justified by your desire to cosset your brats darlings.
If you have a made a choice not to have children, that is your right and you should never have to justify that choice, except to your life partner. However, you must always recognise when you make a choice and expect it to be respected, that other people, who make a different choice, also expect respect for that choice. Also understand that people change their feelings and views as they mature.
It's easy go on an anti-child crusade without really understanding that reproduction will carry on. Put simply, there is a basic biological urge to reproduce. People will argue that as intelligent human beings we are above basic instincts. Remember that the next time you wolf down a burger or shag your partner.
When I was a child the Websters at number 9 were anti-child. not in a nasty way, they were always civil, but they objected to their taxes paying for education. In the endearing political analysis of an 8-year-old, I opined that if it wasn't for Education, children wouldn't grow up to design better caravans. As well as being in the caravan club, they were, needless to say, staunch Tories.
I find the idea of society renewing itself and progressing as exciting. I am excited at the prospect of new life, even though I sometimes despair that that new life doesn't really stand a chance right from the beginning. I do not object to my taxes being spent on measures to alleviate child poverty, and because of that I thoroughly endorse any measures to discourage people from having accidetal and unwanted children. (I also know of very many accidental children who became very much wanted. Maybe you, or your children, are one of those).
I also believe that children are people. I can't stand the parents who believe that every anecdote about their child is the most interesting and/or funny thing ever. I've worked with two like that and at times I've wanted to kill them. I also know, even just on my blogroll there are about ten people who regularly involve their children in their blogging and a few more who do so tangentially. They would not be on my blogroll if I didn't like it. Sometimes those children have problems, sometimes they achieve amazing things. No more or less interesting than blogging about train journeys, poor customer service, passively consuming light entertainment, or the state of the world.
People also say that they oppose fertility treatment on the NHS. Well, la-di-da. How delightful for them. It's easy to get contraception on the NHS. It's easy to get treatment for stupid accidents occurred when partaking in unnecessary pursuits. Or resulting from the abuse of alcohol, or smoking. (I know, I've been there!). Or sexually transmitted infections. I've even heard people say that pregnancy is a disease that should not be treated on the NHS.
There is a spurious argument that says it's wrong that infertility is regarded as a malfunction or a disease. Well, actually, pathologically, it is. There again, there are polls that indicate people oppose AIDS treatment on the NHS.
If you are childless, and would like to have children, and believe that you have the maturity to bring a child up sensibly, and want to create a new life, and want to improve society by instilling values, and want the joy of seeing the world through new eyes, and are able to take the hardship of sleeplessness and wipe up the mess, and withstand the tantrums, and dread the problems of teenage, and resent the "I Know My Rights" parasite brigade, and know that you can do a better job than two thirds of the population, and most of all, know that you have an infinite pool of love to give, then no amount of dogmatic ranting will change your view.
And you can also believe that your life has meaning beyond the ache for the above. Perhaps that's the wisdom of early middle age.
