Multiples and Multiplying

My generation is probably the last to see the large families as an ordinary thing. I grew up with a girl who was the youngest of ten kids. Her mom had them one at a time, so by the time Tami came around, the first born was old enough to be her mom. My husband is the fourth of six children - would have been eight but his mom miscarried one and another was still-born. Once I worked for a woman who was the oldest of 15 kids - her mom had most of them one at a time, with one set of twins thrown in for good measure. Most of our generation really didn't think much of this. Now that we are parents, we have toned it down to two or maybe three children.

Recently, the media has become fascinated with the few women who are having "litters" of babies. The McCaughey septuplets born in November, 1997, Masche sextuplets in 2007, and now octuplets born to Nadya Suleman just a few weeks ago have all appeared on our screens and airways. To be sure, these multiple births are newsworthy.

Suleman and her doctors have been the center of a firestorm of ethical and psychological controversy. Many blogs have decried this woman as completely insane (I'm inclined to believe this myself) and many have demanded that the doctors who performed the procedures have their licenses removed.

Yes, I believe this woman is nuts and the children really ought to be placed in loving homes elsewhere. She says she was an only child and was filling a void. Hello? I'm an only child and there's no way on Earth I would have 14 children. I had my first child at 28 and my second at 32 and decided the baby factory was closed after that. I am married to their father and while things aren't easy, we manage to get by. If there was a void in my life as an only child, I guess I was too dumb to notice it. As an only child, I learned to occupy myself with hobbies and a few friends. I'm probably a stronger person for it because I don't depend on other people to keep me company or entertained. I enjoy company, but don't require it.

I also believe the doctors acted in an unethical manner. However, do we really know what conversations transpired between doctor and patient? That's private and protected by law.

While I pity the family (and I hate the word pity), I wonder if we as a society should pass judgement on this situation. I truly believe God doesn't give us more than we can handle and maybe, by some miracle, this family in all its weirdness will get by. Who knows, maybe one of these babies will grow up to be an inventor or doctor or something fabulous. Or they may grow up and rob every bank from California to Kansas! There's enough of them to do it.

This situation will be a drain on taxpayer money, and many people are rightfully angry about that. Why should all of us pay for the irresponsible behavior of a lonely, deranged woman? However, we face this question everyday with people all around us. My neighbor has two daughters. Both those young woman each had a baby without the benefit of getting married (the biological fathers were deadbeats anyway). My tax dollars are supporting their two adorable boys as well as their tax dollars are supporting my two (wonderful when they feel like it) teenagers. Which situation is fair to the taxpayer? My situation won't last forever. Once I graduate, I will get a full-time job. My husband collects disability and will continue to do so. My son will turn 18 this year and will officially be off the welfare rolls because of his age.

Growing a family one child at a time or all at once really ought to be kept between patient and doctor. However, when the element of financial and mental responsibility comes into play, both parties involved really should examine their true motives and weigh the outcomes.