The New Red-Diaper Babies

New York Times ^ | December 7, 2004 | David Brooks

[stands2reason]

My BIL was 34 when he got married....his youngest is number 7.

[xtinct]

Could be me! But my reply to David Brooks is:

What's it to you?

Why would a 'real' man worry about others' business so much?

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Here, here. It is a disgusting shame that our traditional American values have become part of the fringe because of those you listed.
Time to take back the country.

[lews]

--- I wonder if the writer can back up the claim that "natalists" (read: crazed baby maachines) tend to marry earlier. ---

I believe that should read "earlier than all the myopic NY Times writers that haven't seen or spoken to a red stater in the past 30+ years".

The only thing these morons know about red states is that the cars look like little ants from 30,000 feet up.

[GMMAC]

As far as I know, the color blue is associated with conservatives in virtually every country in the Western world save the U.S.
I've been told that the American use of blue to denote the Democrats only dates to the mid-1970's when the major TV networks reversed the traditional associations so as not to have their liberal friends painted (rightly IMHO) with the communist brush.

One assumes that it's no accident that the "Bonnie Blue Flag", besides by Virginia's, has long stood for individual states' rights as guaranteed by strict interpretation of The U. S. Constitution.

Personally, I consider myself a "true blue" conservative.

[Conservative Goddess]

You are absolutely correct......raising a child is not for the narcissistic.

Tom Tancredo, one of the greatest guys in the House of Reps represents Douglas County, CO......wonder if he has anything to do with creating an environment conducive to child rearing.

Conservative base flock to him, or did the conservative base just elect one who shares their values? Interesting Chicken / Egg conundrum.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

They eat their young.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

And I think Brooks is very wrong, wishfully wrong about thinking families with multiple chidren aren't active in the culture war...they are often on the cutting edge because they have a lot at stake...

[Gaetano]

No, they abort them.

[Politicalmom]

THAT is a BEAUTIFUL BABY!!! : )

[Tax-chick]

Where is the picture of the colicky infant at 2:00 AM? ;)

Seared ... SEARED into my memory ... but unfortunately we don't have the brain-wave-digital-transfer thingie for the pictures yet :-).

[Tax-chick]

Thanks!

[redhead]

"I'd go for 3 or 4 kids if it wasn't so much work. Hats off to those who can handle this many kids without breaking anything against a wall, you have the gift of patience."

I had four. As a rule, by the time the last one arrives, the oldest one is big enough to help out a little. They also help teach and discipline the younger siblings. It doesn't cost any more for a 10-pound bag of potatoes for a family of six or eight than it does for a 10-pound bag of potatoes for a family of three or four, even though it may have to purchased a little more often. Clothes often get handed down, as do toys, bedrooms, etc. The important things in life are often more easily understood in larger families. I am right in the middle of seven, my husband was next-youngest of eight. His parents came from equally large families. My father had nine siblings. Out of all of it, nobody starved, and all got at least an eighth-grade education. Big families are practical and warm, generally.

[processing please hold]

I gave birth to 5. I wanted 9, but saw there was no way we could have afforded more. It's one of the few regrets I have in this life...I didn't get to have my 9 kids.

[1stMarylandRegiment]

I lamented to a married-but-childless friend that I would never have the investment portfolio that so many others our age do.

He replied, "But you invested all of your money in your 3 kids - and it was a much better investment than any I've made."

[angcat]

I have a little friend for him :)

[Eepsy]

My first had colic 6 months straight, twenty hours a day, violently threw-up every solid we gave him his first year, and several times managed to hit objects a good ten feet away whilst getting his diaper changed. #2 no less- I took to wearing a smock and always standing to the side while performing the deed.

My second is an angelbaby and has never given a moments trouble, as I knew she would be from the moment I found out she was coming.

I mean, the Good Lord wouldn't do that to a godfearing woman more than once, now, would he LOL

:)

[Politicalmom]

Well, I have to get on the bandwagon, too. (We were at the zoo, at it was BROILING out, so they are a bit disheveled. : )

[Politicalmom]

Oops. Sorry that is so big.

[gitmo]

My grandmother was one of 13 sisters. There was one boy born, but he died after about a month. Some said he couldn't stand it.