Another letter to the editor

[camper4lyfe]

Poor-family currency is love and resolve

Regarding the April 19 letter "Can't afford car seat? Then don't have baby":

It sounds like the writer is the one who needs to get a clue. Money is not, or should not be, a prerequisite for becoming a parent. Although having money certainly makes it easier to afford the myriad of supplies needed for child-rearing these days, there are plenty of good parents raising nice kids who don't have the money they need or want.

My dad is one of seven children. My grandparents were Irish immigrants who today would be classified as working poor. They, like many people who came to this country seeking a better life, did not have a lot of money. I know there were times my dad's family couldn't afford the basics (which were considerably fewer in the days before car seats, safety gates, etc.). Yet somehow, through love and perseverance mostly, they all made it. If having money had been a prerequisite for having a family, I wouldn't be here. Would the letter writer? How many others?

Car seats and seat belts save lives. Using them regularly, especially with children, is critical. Helping less fortunate families obtain and use them shows compassion, a sentiment severely lacking in the April 19 letter.

I'm sorry, but I'd like to see you buy food with love and resolve.

Comments

[highrider.livejournal.com]

I'd have to agree with you on this one. It's amazing how often you see a struggling poor family with a lot of kids.

[camper4lyfe.livejournal.com]

What's the saying? The poor will prosper? Or something like that?

Of course, then you get the ones that are on food stamps, buying name brand food, running out of money, and opting to put back the salad instead of the chips. I have no sympathy for people like that. The original person had it right. If you can't raise a kid in a GOOD house, loving or not, keep your damn legs shut.

[highrider.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's annoying when you see them buying expensive prepared foods instead of staple foods too.

[highrider.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's annoying when you see them buying expensive prepared foods instead of staple foods too.

[camper4lyfe.livejournal.com]

And the sad thing is, it happens WAY too often.

bringing up baby

[chrsmoos.livejournal.com]

My father is one of 9 children. He is the oldest with 8 sisters behind him. His father worked 2 jobs, my grandmother did sewing and other such things until all the kids were in school and she could work during the day.
They were as poor as poor can be, yet, had very little public assistance, sans the government surplus back in the day when such programs existed.
My grandfather died in 72, at the age of 44. He left 5 kids at home and they struggled.
My father, though he loves both of his parents and his sisters still resents that they continued to have children, when it was increasingly difficult and irresponsible to provide for each child. I imagine it is only much more difficult and therefore ten times more irresponsible today in an age of packaged food and superstores, when no one knows how to plant a good garden and has to have the latest and greatest in child protective devices and Baby Gap.

Re: bringing up baby

[camper4lyfe.livejournal.com]

Oh god. don't even get me started on Baby Gap.

I'm going to guess that your father's family was Catholic. That's why my mom's family was almost as big.

Re: bringing up baby

[chrsmoos.livejournal.com]

On the Grandfathers side, yes. I don't think you can pin that on being Catholic, althought that is the traditional assumption. It would seem to me that if you don't believe in birth control and cannot afford additional children then you shouldn't be having sex.

Re: bringing up baby

[camper4lyfe.livejournal.com]

My mom's family was/is Catholic. My dad's lived on a farm. Two different reasons for having a big family.

Re: bringing up baby

[chrsmoos.livejournal.com]

True.:)

[kristenny.livejournal.com]

Yes, kids whose parents were too stupid (or, in less likely cases, had some calamity befall them, leaving them impoverished) to plan ahead for the costs of raising kids should not be punished for their parents' idiocy; all kids should be in carseats.

But this fuckwit is exactly what's wrong with the world today.

Let me say this once: HAVING CHILDREN IS A *PRIVELEGDE* FOR THOSE WHO WANT THEM AND HAVE THE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES TO CARE FOR THEM FOR 18 YEARS OR MORE. It is not your "right" to pop out as many as you want and then act indignant when those of us either without children (such as my husband and I, who are childfree) or with children who are being responsibly provided for get PISSED at your selfish breederisms.

I hate stupid people. Why are they usually the ones who reproduce?

[camper4lyfe.livejournal.com]

I hate stupid people. Why are they usually the ones who reproduce?

One word-ignorance.

There is a judge up here that actually denied a crack whore with a couple kids in foster care from having any more after she had the most recent one until she could care for the onse she already has. I don't remember the entire story, but there was a big uproar about it, it went through all the appeals and up to the supreme court and all that bullshit and it was upheld. Thank god!