Flummoxed could be one word used to describe my emotions when I read about the California woman who recently gave birth to octuplets. Thoughts of tandem diaper changes and nonstop tag-team feedings filled my mind, and I couldn’t begin to fathom the logistics of such a thing. Twins are common, triplets aren’t unheard of, and multiple births of four and more occasionally make the news - but eight?When I learned she had six other children at home, all under the age of seven, my consternation turned into shock and dismay. I am the mother of only two children, and each will tell you that I spent more time and energy on the other. It has to be infinitely harder to divide the mommy pie by 14. Now, of course, there is word that the mother is attempting to peddle her story on the open market to the highest bidder.Uh oh. The fairy tale bubble of a woman who loves children so much she has to have a football team’s worth (and then some) bursts like sticky gum all over her face. The woman may indeed love children, but with the addition of the “For Sale” sign hanging over her head, her motives for family expansion are looking shakier by the minute.Don’t get me wrong. In vitro fertilization is a wonderful thing for couples (and singles) who can’t conceive on their own. The intent is to aid infertile women, not to make them baby making machines. It was my understanding that women seeking the service are thoroughly screened, but somehow the fact that this single mother, who was likely not infertile and with six children to begin with and just wanted to have more, slipped right through the cracks.I love my children, but pregnancy was, well…a drag. My first one was enormous, weighing in at over 9 pounds. I went from 92 pounds to over 140 in less than six months. I wasn’t worried about the weight gain; it was the logistics of carrying that much extra baggage up front. I was a Weeble that wobbled and fell down on more than one occasion. I’m ashamed to admit the second pregnancy drained me, and I spent more time napping than parenting my two-year-old son. Multiply the pregnant body by eight and you can see where I’m coming from.Large families can be wonderful. My personal limit of two children was based partly on the fact that I know my own limitations as a parent. I may have only had two, but there are lingering regrets regarding the amount of time I spent with them and the quality of that time spent. My two-children limit was also based on the fact that I came from a large family myself, six siblings in all.
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Article comments
1 - maskay
Excellent article. I thought many of the same things you did. I have two children and do not feel I give them enough attention. I cannot imagine adding more children in the mix.
Without any means of financial and emotional support, I hope the California Child protectitive services agency keeps a close eye on her. It may be in their best interest they are adopted out, as radical that may be.