Hello all, long time no see...
Thank you for the post
Colin, I think it is an issue which needs a lot more discussion, and like many
such topics, it is hard to approach- it is incredibly emotional and personal,
but I think, equally important.
This question is one
that I have grappled with a lot, and actually led to one of my lowest points in
the last few years, when at one stage I decided that I would not have children,
because as well as not wanting to add to the strain on the earth’s resources, I
didn’t want to bring a small person into a world where I might not be able to
protect them, or provide them with a stable environment where they could lead a
happy and meaningful life… and this was a very sad decision to come to. It
makes my heart ache.
And a friend accused
me of giving up on the world, she saw it as not investing any of myself in the
future. I took some offence to this, as my career and most of my personal life
is spent in researching and promoting pathways to sustainability. I saw it as a
decision from a realist point of view. We don’t know what the future holds, and
many predictions look bleak, at least.
But loving children
and wanting to be part of the life of one of my own is such a huge part of how
I picture my future, how a lot of us picture the future I think- that thinking
about this was incredibly painful.
So I have decided to
wait a few more years and if I feel the same way, and if I still decide not to have
children, definitely give my love and the knowledge I’ve gained over my life to
children I bond with, possibly through fostering children or adoption (if this
is feasible), as well as to my cousins and the babies of friends. I think I
would burst otherwise. Too much love!
on a separate note, I
think we should continue to celebrate the motivation and passion that
parenthood brings to so many people in this area- my mum, who has been my
greatest inspiration in environmental action, was initially motivated to seek
information and take action when I (her oldest child) was born- and this is a
story we hear over and over- that it is the point for many people when denial
or distraction is no longer viable- having a baby is when long term futures
become real in our imagination- and we are suddenly hugely invested in them.
And this is a fantastic thing.
Ps. Happy Birthday Mum! thanks for being so inspiring. and for just being you.
mmmm babies.....
(sorry, that wasn't very intellectual)
Posted by: fiona | December 16, 2008 at 09:02 PM
hey, it's babies, hard to be intellectual, all you want to do is cuddle and make them laugh. babies!
Posted by: Anna | January 16, 2009 at 12:19 PM