There are many family oriented shows out there to express how rough it is to raise a family or how unique a large family is. I have been jumping back-and-forth from Teen Mom, Kate Plus 8, 19 Kids and Counting, and Raising Sextuplets. I heard some time ago that the abortion rate dropped and there has been an increase in child birth. It is a true blessing to hear, but such shows as Teen Mom call teen childbearing an “epidemic”. I really detest the word epidemic when relating to a child. I don’t agree with these women getting pregnant outside of marriage. It then leads the teen to feel obligated to marry the person who they most likely don’t love and then it will reflect the way they raise a child. To give the teens positive feedback, I do find it encouraging that they chose the selfless gift of having their children and expressing to other teens how it’s not always easy as they may think. My solution to preventing pregnancy for those outside of marriage…don’t have sex. Now, in my case as a married woman with a child, I choose to space my children out. Watching these shows is my "free" birth control without the pill or doctors note. All you need is cable TV!
Many may think it is a joke, but with all honesty it isn't. Let me be clear that I absolutely LOVE children and believe they are a blessing from God. I am Pro-Life and do believe God provides all things necessary to raise children. I am not so quick to having another one right away while I am watching 6 little Isaiah's running around destroying a home and getting sick all at once on TV. These parents are phenomenal!
My favorite family reality show is “Raising Sextuplets” on the WE channel. If anyone has watched the show, it is nowhere comparable to "Jon & Kate Plus 8" or what my husband now calls "Jon & Kate Separate". I just hope those 6 little babies don't turn into lil brats like the Gosselin family...ooops did I say that? One thing I appreciate about the show is their martial commitment. They realize their marriage isn't perfect, but they meet with the Pastor and a Dr. to counsel their marriage difficulties. I don't find anything wrong with that. In fact, I nearly puke when I hear of couples who claim they never fight. What comedians those couples are! At times I know my husband and I need to take a break from our own personal readings and read martial counseling books. We only have a 4 year dent in our marriage, so we do plan on longer happy years together. Not to mention, the parent’s relationship has a tremendous impact on their child's life. I am blessed to say that my parents are still together (hard to find in this generation) and happily married. They raised all 9 of us and now that we are all grown and out of the house, they travel and do many date nights. If my parents didn't share this love to our family, I can only imagine how this would affect our own families today.
I truly believe that God is in control of blessing us with children and no child is a "mistake." I may scare many Moms or even my own family with admitting that I just go with the flow to parenting. I find many parenting books lame and believe that God helps to sustain me as a parent...why else would He bless me with one? I look forward to the time God blesses me with another child, but today I enjoy my little dude, Isaiah. He is an awesome kid that fills our house with laughter and fun. It’s amazing how a child can positively affect a family. I just hope the same applies to his teens. I know, I know…I am dreaming. :)
