The Truth About the Baby Days

On the heels of this Balenciaga scandal which should have sparked outrage akin to rioting and vigilantism but has instead only caused a minor mention in the media, I find myself reeling at the extent to which children are being exploited and discarded in our society.  So, let me just take a moment to talk about the deep invaluableness of children, (their is worth beyond compare) in the hopes that macabre trend will reverse.

There is a message bombarding young women today which says that you can't have a baby and do anything else with your life.  It basically claims that having children is the end of all your hopes and dreams.  It's a flimsy lie, but it's been hanging around so long that a lot of people are actually believing it and by the time most women realize they've been misled, it's all too late.  (I'm not advocating for everyone to have children, if you don't want kids, fine with me, don't have them. What I am doing is advocating against the lies about having children.  So, if I'm not saying you must have children, only that you shouldn't believe the lies about having children and this still offends you, maybe ask yourself why).  

Of the myriad of reasons people have for not wanting children some are legitimate and I respect them.   However, when most people say things like,  1. The world is just too scary right now, 2. My career's too important, 3. I want to have adventures, 4. My life is so full already, they're really just justifications for cowardice or wanting to remain selfish and immature for as long as possible.  Those are tough words, and I'm sorry that they're true.  The fact is that life is hard.  1. The world has always been and will always be filled with wars, plagues, and general troubles.  That's life.  2. Many, many people find out that their "career" was just a job and when they left they were instantly forgotten and easily replaced.  3. Their "adventures" were just regular vacations where they followed a tour guide around like everyone else, including people with children.  4. Their successes are hollow because they cannot be shared, and their lives are quite empty.  The most tragic thing of all is that they find this out after they've already missed the boat on building a family and all they can do is regret it simply because they believed a message that just wasn't true.

Building a family has this wonderful way of making you braver, stronger, making you grow-up, making you selfless and fierce in your defense of the people you love.  Children don't end your dreams, they become part of them.  It's possible that after having a family you won't pursue some dreams because what you used to think was important can change when you have a family, but kids don't stop you from being successful.  People with children can still reach their goals and childless people still fail.  There are no laws to stop anyone from having a family and pursuing any of their goals, and that means that the only true stumbling block to you getting what you want from life is you.  Kids aren't really the determining factor, personal conviction is.  

If Marie Curie can make one of the most important scientific discoveries in history while being a mom, surely you can finish college.  And if Eloise Wilkin can leave her career for ten years to raise a family and then return to become one of the most significant and beloved illustrators and doll designers in American History, then surely you can take a little time off to start a family and go back to your job when you're ready too.  Need a more modern example of motherhood?  Check out Jessica Hanna at Blessed_by_cancer who became a doctor while having a family and beat aggressive cancer while pregnant.  Seriously, all those excuses start looking pretty feeble when you hear about someone like this.

I'm not saying you must have children; if you don't want kids, don't have them.  It is entirely possible to have a meaningful life without a spouse and/or children, but if it's something you're on the fence about, really make sure you're doing it for the right reasons so you don't end up full of regret over something you can no longer change.  Because the simple truth is just this, Women can have babies and: go to college, have a career, have hobbies, have adventures, be successful, be interesting, achieve their goals, etc, etc, etc.  We Are Strong Enough.  And don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.  Having a family isn't the end of your dreams or your adventures; it's only the beginning.

Shopping Info:  Ecosusi Bag, Embroidered Pullover by YeMAK