Babies Are No Longer Considered A Blessing

Jewish Press ^ | March 8, 2006 | Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

[HHFi]

When I was in college, several decades (!) ago, I remember an economics professor saying that with the migration from farms to cities, children went from being assets to liabilities. He said people used to have lots of children because they needed lots of help running farms, and feeding them wasn't an issue because they grew their own food, so each child eased the burden on the parents. But in the city, dad (or later, dad and mom) had to work to buy food, clothing, and all other needs for the kids, so each new kid added to the burden, at least until he was old enough to get a job and contribute financially.

This doesn't touch on the subject of blessings or spirituality, it just helps to explain the shift in attitudes to a general feeling that very large families are not as desirable from a purely economic standpoint. Unless you give birth to the Osmond family, of course.

[Sybeck1]

I love baby threads!! Here's my 5 month old boy, Jake!!

[Americanchild]

My evil supervisor absolutely hates anyone to be pregnant. She actually publicly berated a co-worker with her "zero population growth" speech when he announced wanting to have a third child! Then when another woamn was having a difficult pregnancy, she had the audacity to say that maybe she was one of those women " not meant to have children"!

[imskylark]

How cute! I miss babies! My youngest is 11. They grow so fast.

[JCEccles]

My first grandchildren, identical twin girls, are due in July. Am I pleased? You better believe it!

[Sun Descending]

I do think this author has a point, but even here in California, a lot of people still love babies. Mine
isn't born yet, and everyone at my workplace is
excited. Customers smile and asks questions about it
every day. What will it be named, is it a boy or
a girl? Am I excited? When babies come to visit,
all eyes are on them. People instantly smile.
I hope it stays that way.

[SJackson]

Was a time she could have slapped him, rightfully.

[Dan(9698)]

We had to stop at 7.

My wife's health.

I am glad my parents didn't stop with 12, since I am # 13 of 16.

[SJackson]

Thanks for a cheerful post, more people need to feel that way

[Sun Descending]

The overpopulation problem doesn't exist anymore. In most places, we're facing, if anything, an underpopulation problem - which is why Japan is paying families thousands of dollars to have children and why Australian politicians are telling people it is their patriotic duty to reproduce.

*grin* I'm glad you called in.

[Alberta's Child]

Many of my friends didn’t seem all that happy for me.

I wouldn't have been all that happy for him, either. When you consider how far overboard this guy has gone to defend Michael Jackson, I think of his kids as potential victims.

[Sun Descending]

Ack! :( I'm sorry

[Sun Descending]

Aww. He has ducky fuzz hair!

[Sun Descending]

Discriminating against workers because of pregnancy is illegal. He better be careful with that.

[joesnuffy]

I work hard to support a large family and I give up no pleasures in doing so because my children are my foremost pleasure.

This used to be what a typical American would believe...

This here...is whatcha call a good guy..a real good guy..

imo

[Americanchild]

How adorable! I just want to eat him up!

[lawnguy]

A world that has become selfish has soured to the idea of leading a life of selflessness. A world that has become grossly materialistic is turned off to the idea of more dependents who consume resources. And a world that mistakenly believes that freedom means a lack of responsibility is opposed to the idea of needy creatures who "tie you down."

This is the key. Babies require commitment. I also think generations of high divorce rates have taken their toll. A lot of young adults I know would rather not risk putting their kids through a divorce.

It was hard on them, and they don't want to do it to a kid of their own.

[Americanchild]

He is a "she" believe it or not!

[GOP_Proud]

I'm #8 of 8. A big family is a blessing.

[Alouette]

Another article on the same theme.

I am proud to be the "family redneck," 9 kids and 14 grandbabies!

If the rest of the Jews are slowly becoming extinct, does that mean my family will ultimately repopulate the Jewish world?

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