Summary:
Chapter 11 is about the decision couples make concerning having kids and Parenthood. Everyone is diverse in how they turn out to be with child; real planners, fateful accepters, undecided couples, and the yes-no couples. No matter how they react to the pregnancy, there were many costs and benefits to having children. Almost 3/4 of our population is parents. Becoming a parent can come in the course of many different avenues: planning to do so, surprised but welcoming of a pregnancy, mixed feelings about a surprise pregnancy, or one partner may not want the child. The benefits of having a child include: being happier than ever before being "in love" with their baby, being "completed" from the child in their life, and having a more fulfilling life. The chapter also discusses the fact that couples may be infertile for many reasons and may have to consider different forms of reproduction. Many choose to adopt or begin treatments to have their own child. The high-tech treatments include in vitro fertilization (IVF), surrogacy, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).
Interesting/Unusual Items:
I found the chapter quite interesting and informative. The part about abortion is touching and gives people choices.
Discussion:
I know the saying is first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage, but in all reality that’s not always the case. What do you think about those parents who don’t have a choice, but are forced to become parents at such a young age, either because one parent wants the child and the other doesn’t or because a parent dies and leaves the other to raise the child/ren by themselves?
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ReplyDeleteI think if an unexpected pregnancy occurs at a young age, and the "couple," if they are one, decides to keep it, then I believe that child deserves a right to grow up in a loving community. I say community because I believe a child deserves a family, but that two people should not be forced into a marriage that they don't want or aren't ready for. A child can still be loved and cared for by two people who aren't married. That's just my opinion though.
ReplyDeleteI think both parents have an obligation to make the best life possible for the child. If one parent dies then that is truly unfortunate, but I would hope friends of the family and even the grandparents would be able to step in to help, or at least be there for support for the single parent.
Steve Boser