Responsibility

[MomOfDoubleJs]

I am really upset by all of this and having some trouble putting my discontent into words.

Today I read about an adult who is relying upon public assistance paying for IVF and mothering the latest eight of her fourteen children.  Also in the news is a story of two very young teens parenting their first child in the UK.

We are a world with very limited resources, struggling to feed and nurture our current population, yet we continually see these stories of irresponsibility.  Where were the parents of those two children?  Why weren't they taught the actual consequences of sex?  Why is this woman able to afford a costly and time consuming fertility treatment when she has six other children she is unable to support so the tax payers do?

Perhaps if we teach how hard parenthood really is, less people would view babies in the same light as puppies (cute and disposable).  Perhaps, instead of focusing on abstinence vs. protection in schools or at home, we should be stressing responsibility. 

Your responsibility to protect and honor your body, not just from disease but from abuse.

Your responsibility to parent and provide for every child you bring into this world.

Your responsibility to prevent unwanted pregnancies before they happen.

Your responsibility to wait until you are mature enough, emotionally and physically, to have sex.

Your responsibility to respect other's bodies and beliefs.

We are children of a society so eager to place blame outside of ourselves instead of claiming responsibility.  Its always the parent's fault until it is our own children, then it is society's fault.

Perhaps, if we were all taught responsibilty from a young age, a lot of today's problems wouldn't be problems.

[moomoosmama]

Feb. 14, 2009 at 6:21 PM

love, love, love your post.  i couldn't have said it better myself.