Comments

• I would like to add an aspect of this conversation that I find neglected: The spirituality of parenting, most interestingly to me, motherhood. My husband and I, both Catholics, are one of those who choose to have a "large" family and I work with Catholic moms, as a spiritual director, who is seeking to understand God's call in their lives as mother and woman. What strikes me, this whole subject of parenting, mothering, and the size of family is that it has a seemingly spiritual aspect. Perhaps form childhood experiences, or some other unanswered spiritual need, we often focus not on the spiritual dimension of children and child rearing, the spirituality of motherhood if you would, but rather the material aspect for parenting: The cost of ballet lessons, and so on. But having children does not need to deem us to a life of unfulfilled dreams, goals and aspirations. To be good role models for our children we must show them that our God given callings are important, and that our callings can and do change over time. Our callings grow and mature, and this growth and maturity often comes with addition of children. As young adults we spoke as a child, thought as a child, reasoned as a child, when as we became parents did we put away childish things? Instead of focusing on the material, the burdensome, the tiring routine, wouldn't it be helpful to point out how children help us become more than we think we would be?
  in In a Bad Economy, Opting for an Only Child
  Friday July 30, 2010, 03:07 PM