[beezdotcom]

I know of at least 2 children that the doctors said would be abnormal, and applied a lot of pressure to abort. Both were perfect.

I know similar cases - and frighteningly, I think *many* people know cases like this.

I also know people so advised who *did* have abnormal children - and yet, they still loved those children, for the few minutes they shared with them before they died. Sometimes, your job as a parent lasts only a few minutes - but it's still your job to perform.

[Marie]

When I was a teenager I got into a *lot* of trouble. I smoked, drank, stayed out all night, ran away, etc.

But I always managed to keep myself out of the *really* bad stuff.

I tried to keep my body relatively "clean" because of simple biology. I'd learned that I was carrying all the eggs that I would ever have. Every potential child was half-way formed, just waiting for a father. I felt that I was already sharing my body with my future children and that I had no right to endanger them.

I've taught my own daughter this lesson. "You're already a mother. The babies are there. It's your responsibility to protect them now by protecting yourself, choose their father wisely, then keep them from killing themselves until they're grown." (I love that she "gets" me!) ;-)

[Yaelle]

Exactly. I have read the stories of the parents who were forever grateful that their little ones were able to be born and pass away, loved, in their parents' arms. How meaningful their short lives were to the whole family and how important it was to know that they Were, and that they could then be mourned, missed, and waited for until we all meet again in a better place.