Archived: What's a coulpe more at this point?

Original Post Date: October 25, 2006
We have some friends that have 6 daughters and are in the process of adopting twin sons internationally. This week, they brought home ANOTHER set of twin boys. Once the other boys arrive, that will make 10 kids. I’ll say it again—10 kids. Lots of people think they’re crazy, but I say more power to them—they’ll have their own baseball team!
We get asked all the time if we’re going to have any more kids. In fact, I think I was still in the hospital with Ethan when I asked when number 3 was coming along. People are always ready to push you to the next big thing. After your first date, your friends ask when the wedding is. When you get married, your aunt grabs your arm on your way back up the aisle and asks when she’s going to be a great-aunt. The moment you announce your first pregnancy, it’s no longer news—they want to know when the second one will be coming. I figure soon people will be asking Abby when she’s going to make us grandparents.
But I digress. It’s funny when people ask us if we’re done having kids—they usually expect me to say yes, and when I say we aren’t sure, they look at me like I’m a little crazy. I know we live in the world of small families, but really—three kids is not that big of a deal. My best friend Mandy is about to have her third, and she’s quite normal. Our friends Molly and Jimmy have 4, as does my cousin Denise, and those are lovely families. Somewhere after 3 or 4 but before Duggar territory, though, it starts to become the topic of strangers’ conversation. Kristen, mom of the 10 mentioned above, told me back when she only had 6 (!) that people would assume they were ultra-conservative, home schooling fanatics that made their own clothes and had family sing alongs every night. I can assure you this is not the case—they just like being parents, and like kids, as do we.
Besides, if you think about it, it makes sense to have a few kids. You hope that if you raise them right, nurture them and give them unconditional love, they in return will take care of you in your old age. However, there’s no guarantee that you won’t have a kid that wants to be an “actor” or “musician” and will live in a 300 square foot studio apartment with three other guys trying to “make it” in the “industry”. If that’s your only one, you’re done for. If, however, you have two or three extra, at least one of them will probably be a modest success and be able to maintain for you the lifestyle to which you are accustomed.
I feel this post needs two disclaimers:
- I DO NOT have children just to have someone to support me later. It’s a JOKE.
- I AM NOT pregnant. Really. REALLY, Mom