So, this is going to be an unconventional blog rant for me because it has been on my mind for quite a while and I wanted to get it out there and to get other people's opinions on the matter. That being said, this post will not be about Japan much at all, but about society in general.
Honestly, the whole hosting-an-alien-life-form-inside-your-body-for-nine-months totally creeps me out. And seeing people go up to pregnant women and touch their bellies is completely along the lines of bursting-my-personal-bubble-space. What part of being pregnant makes people think it is okay to go up to said-pregnant-woman and touch her stomach?!
REALLY?!?!? Normally people don't go up to another person and random touch a part of their body and talk to it, so why do that to a stranger's stomach?! If I was ever pregnant (spoiler: I'm not planning to), I would have to invent a contraption that would encompass me so that I wouldn't have to interact with strangers and fend them off from touching me (NO TOUCHY...NO TOUCH!). I just don't get it. Also, there is the whole "beauty of childbirth." HOW THE HECK IS IT BEAUTIFUL WHEN YOU ARE IN THE WORST PAIN IN YOUR LIFE AND ARE BLEEDING AND ALL THAT OTHER GROSS STUFF?! In short: I see no beauty. You will not convince me. Trust me on this one. Do. Not. Try. Then, once you have produced the baby, you are then expected to care for it. Every. Day. Until it leaves. And that could be anywhere from 18-30 years. Why would you want to do that? I mean, I don't think I have ever seen a parent who is not totally exhausted most days. And the days they are not are the ones they have pawned off their offspring to a relative or a friend for a reprieve from the madness. Why should you have to take a break if it is something "good"?? That's not included the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS you will have to spend on them--from paying for the hospital bill when birthing them to school and food and more school... Why not spend it on yourself or on the community or on your hobbies? Things that won't cause you headaches or pain. In short, the comic above pretty much sums up what I think about babies and those who comment on my lack of. Sorry parents, but currently, I don't think I will be having any children. Nor do I see myself changing my mind in the near future. However, when I was younger, I totally thought I would be having kids--at least 2, no more than 3. I grew up with the expectation that getting married and having kids and staying home with them was the only option. I didn't even think that NOT having kids was an option. I thought that those who did not have kids were physically unable to have them and that that was the only reason for people to not have kids. But now I think that it is really unreasonable for society to think that ALL women should have children. Honestly, it's not like the population is declining rapidly and we're on the verge of extinction... I know plenty of couples who have multiple children (why, I don't know...) and therefore I have a pretty sure expectation that the human race is going to live on for at least another generation. I doubt that there will be a decline any time soon due to the fact that society thinks that women are to make babies and that most women enjoy having children. Ok, off my soap box. Feel free to comment your thoughts below on what your position is on women and society's view of them as baby-makers. Or what your thoughts of having children were when you were younger vs. what you think now.
4 Comments
Amanda
3/11/2016 04:33:11 pm
Okay, so first off society in general is messed up. Women are capable of so much, the abilities don't stop at raising children. Not that raising children is a minor thing. Not everyone can raise a child. Biblically speaking, God does tell us to create offspring...so it is kinda our job. Lol Children are exhausting, gross, aggrivating creatures. BUT, they are also the sweetest, most loving, hilarious, beautiful creatures as well. Their innocence is stunning and makes almost every adult look like selfish racists with no humility. Children love uncondionally, something adults are incapable of doing on the same level. No one will be more happy to see you every day. Yes, some days they press your buttons. Some days you wonder why you decided it was a good idea to have 3 kids under 4. But that's the BEAUTY of parenting. There's ups and downs. Most days you think your teaching your child, when really they're teaching you. Parenting is beyond rewarding in every way. It's not about the money spent, the loss of sleep, the grossness of child birth, it's about the miracle God blesses you with. The tiny little miracle who loves you always. There's not much that can beat that.
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Melanie
3/11/2016 05:42:32 pm
Ok, so because you brought it up (and I want to play devil's advocate) I wondering what your thoughts are on the women who physically cannot have children. Since, as you said, it is Biblically their job to create offspring. Are they then unable to do their "job" and will therefore be doomed?
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Linda Dean
3/11/2016 08:07:44 pm
Well, Melanie, I'm not in any hurry to be a grandmother; but I will just say that having children has been the greatest joy of my life and I have never regretted it--not the pain, not the cost, not the exhaustion. Because it is so worth it. The love, joy and pride we have because of you and your sisters far outweighs any hardship we endured. And if you change your mind someday, I promise not to remind you of this blog. :)
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Rachel Dean
3/12/2016 11:48:16 pm
Oof, girl, I could commiserate with you about this for days. SO many things I could say. Among them: what happens to Christian women who just can't find a man to marry - are they also not fulfilling God's promise? What about Paul saying if you can stay single, you should do it, the better to focus on your calling in God's kingdom? All this to say, I don't think women are disobeying God by not having kids. There are other ways to serve Him.
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Myself
Video blogger and now a blogger as well. My life in Japan has changed me for the better. However, it wasn't easy... Archives
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