Should Parents Only Be Allowed Two Children?
John Guillebaud, co-chairman of Optimum Population Trust and emeritus professor of family planning at University College London, said: "The effect on the planet of having one child less is an order of magnitude greater than all these other things we might do, such as switching off lights. The greatest thing anyone in Britain could do to help the future of the planet would be to have one less child."
This man has just indicated that the environment is the biggest factor in determining how many children to have. He goes on to say that ideally couples should have no more than two children. Why are others so concerned about how many children a couple chooses to have? If a couple has one child, they are asked why they don't have more. If they have more than two or three, they are asked when they will be done having children.
A mother with four beautiful children was informed they had the perfect family, two of each gender, so they don't need anymore. What? The only people that should decide what the "perfect" family is should be the parents. When are outsiders going to stay out of it? Many are not able to financially or emotionally able to have more than one child. They should not be ridiculed or harassed for the decision to have one child. Neither should the couple that chooses to have many. Whether it is two or ten, the choice is ultimately the couple's, not their family, friends, acquaintances, or society.
With so many people concerned about how many children are being born, it can be frustrating and saddening for an infertile couple. When asked why they don't have children, the feeling of inadequacy or failure can creep in. Often they worry about what they might have done to cause this. When in reality, there is no explanation as to why some couples are not able to have children. This very reason alone should affect the way people speak to others about having kids. It's not always as easy as "let's have a baby". The infertile couple may also encounter an ignorant remark such as, "Well, kids are a burden anyway. You didn't really want any did you?" This is not only ignorant, but rude and insensitive.
The decision to have children and how many is an important and often overwhelming one for couples. With so many factors to consider, the decision should never be taken lightly. But to say that the environment should be a major consideration is appalling. Finances, stress level, health of mother, and religious beliefs are excellent factors to consider when making the decision to have more children. The environment is not a good reason, unless it is important to the couple, then it should be a in the equation. For most couples, the environment does not nor should it play into their decision. It's interesting to think that a man with three children is suggesting that he should never have had the third.
This man has just indicated that the environment is the biggest factor in determining how many children to have. He goes on to say that ideally couples should have no more than two children. Why are others so concerned about how many children a couple chooses to have? If a couple has one child, they are asked why they don't have more. If they have more than two or three, they are asked when they will be done having children.
A mother with four beautiful children was informed they had the perfect family, two of each gender, so they don't need anymore. What? The only people that should decide what the "perfect" family is should be the parents. When are outsiders going to stay out of it? Many are not able to financially or emotionally able to have more than one child. They should not be ridiculed or harassed for the decision to have one child. Neither should the couple that chooses to have many. Whether it is two or ten, the choice is ultimately the couple's, not their family, friends, acquaintances, or society.
With so many people concerned about how many children are being born, it can be frustrating and saddening for an infertile couple. When asked why they don't have children, the feeling of inadequacy or failure can creep in. Often they worry about what they might have done to cause this. When in reality, there is no explanation as to why some couples are not able to have children. This very reason alone should affect the way people speak to others about having kids. It's not always as easy as "let's have a baby". The infertile couple may also encounter an ignorant remark such as, "Well, kids are a burden anyway. You didn't really want any did you?" This is not only ignorant, but rude and insensitive.
The decision to have children and how many is an important and often overwhelming one for couples. With so many factors to consider, the decision should never be taken lightly. But to say that the environment should be a major consideration is appalling. Finances, stress level, health of mother, and religious beliefs are excellent factors to consider when making the decision to have more children. The environment is not a good reason, unless it is important to the couple, then it should be a in the equation. For most couples, the environment does not nor should it play into their decision. It's interesting to think that a man with three children is suggesting that he should never have had the third.
Published by Amy Ulibarri
Amy is a wife and mother of 3. She enjoys spending time with her family and loves the outdoors. View profile
- Keeping Your Children SafeKeeping your children safe has always been a priority. In this day and age the bad guys are even more numerous and smarter than they used to be. Here are some tips that you and your children should know to ensure thei...
- Weekend Parenting: How Non-Custodial Parents Can Stay ParentsNon-custodial parents have the challenge of trying to remain close and remain parents with only limited time with children. There are steps non-custodial parents can take to keep their relationship with their child s...
- Internet Technology and Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenSexual exploitation of children happens everywhere, not only in "third-world" countries. The Internet has only made it more widespread. The criminals are more Internet-savvy than the police. But there are many organiz...
The Kinders Identities: Jewish Children Torn from Their Parents to Save...While the Kindertransport of 1938 - 1939, saved Ten Thousand Jewish Children, it was the catalyst that took them away from their Jewish identities and forced them to adjust to a...- Stay-at-Home Parents vs Schools and OthersAn explanation of the old saying "mother knows best" giving a few numbers, as well as interesting tidbits each parent, and other childhood "professional" should know.
- Parents and Child Protective Services
- Should Gay/Lesbians Be Foster/Adoptive Parents?
- What Parents Can Do to Keep Children Safer Online: Is Your Child Safe on the Inter...
- Should Minors Be Allowed to Use Tanning Beds?
- How to Teach Your Children to Be Generous
- Deciding How to Discipline Your Children
- Are Church and State Already Separate?
The British fertility rate is 1.7 while the United States fertility rate is currently 2.1335
8 Comments
Post a CommentThe problem is is that the world is becoming overpopulated and the natural world, forest, grasslands, animals are disappearing. The earth cannot feed all these people if it continues to grow. 2 children is the right number to repopulate without excess. Yes some will have none and others 3 but for the most part 2. If people choose to have more than they should be solely responsible for their children, food, healthcare, schooling. Not supporting their excess kids through other peoples tax dollars, welfare, food stamps, tax breaks.
excellent article!!
This is a great debate topic.
My uncle and aunt have six children and they are all perfect. They help each other, are respectful to their parents, and they have so much fun together. So I can't say that I am against people having more than two children. I do, however, think more people should be open to the idea of adoption because of all the children who are abandoned and alone in this world, and sometimes I think the world would be a better place if birth control were mandatory until couples were ready to have children.
I'm a Malthusian, and thus in favor of anything that lowers the population (i.e. abortion, death penalty and plain old natural selection). The world can only sustain so many people and the quality of life for the average person goes down with "each precious bundle." Look at the African babies with flies laying eggs on their faces - the ones who will die today from malnutrition and lack of clean water and tell me whether human life is really that precious. People should focus on being well informed and enlightened human beings who can curb their egos and have a sustainable amount of children, not being baby factories giving the world more kids it can't feed. HOWEVER, I do not trust the government with power over reproductive rights. Any reduction of human proliferation should come from social pressure through birth control and taboos - not government control.
I don't think anyone should place restrictions or laws saying people can only have X number of children. However, I think it's up to us as responsbile adults to realize that having one child is often a blessing. This Earth is overpopulated already. Many people are having children who cannot or will not support tham as necessary. So yes, I think his saying this was good as a conversation starter and to get people thinking.
I really have to say no. I'm all for helping out the environment, but I don't think it is fair to place restrictions on personal freedom. I only have one child (and probably won't have more), so someone else can have three. Some people want several children, others want none. If everyone ate vegan, the impact on our planet would be profound, but we can't force that lifestyle on others just as we can't impose restrictions on reproductive freedom.
I want four children. I don't feel like that decision has negative consequences for others at all. For every fertile couple that has more than two children, there's a couple that choses never to have children, a man who choses never to be a husband or dad, a woman who choses never to be a mom or wife, a couple that can't have children and must adopt. There's no reason to set restrictions on reproduction, except in cases where a family cannot care for their kids but continue to have them anyway.