A Living Example

Brett Salkeld has a post up about the witness of simply having children (and particularly, more than the "nice , neat family of precisely two children").

I had taken my three children out for a walk for the first time – Daisy is brand new – and met a family of precisely two. Their youngest was a little younger than my second. A lovely family, they just couldn’t imagine how we did it. A family of five in a little two-bedroom apartment downtown. Even in their big house in the burbs they couldn’t imagine where they’d put another baby. And the lack of sleep! No, they couldn’t have another one, even if it would be nice.

Daisy sure is crying a lot though.

Is she hungry?

No, she just ate. It’s probably digestion.

Maybe I could get her to stop?

Be my guest.

Mom held Daisy for a long time. Then, Dad. He’s the expert at this, after all. Maybe he can get her to stop. Then Mom again. They could not put her down. It’s really too bad we can’t have another. Really too bad.

Here’s the thing. We can’t imagine how we’re doing it either. Our heads are barely above water. Sometimes we order pizza to avoid dishes and sometimes we put on the cartoons and have a nap. But we’ll get there. People have been having more than two kids for a long time.

In other news, a family in the neighbourhood recently told us they’re expecting number 2. Number 1 is still home in China with relatives and they miss him terribly, and this pregnancy wasn’t planned. They had scheduled the abortion, in fact (“We’re not religious, you understand.”), but cancelled at the last second. They’re scared, but excited.

We see you out with your kids all the time. They look like so much fun. How do you do it?

I have no idea. But you’re right, it is fun. You’ll never regret having your baby.