My Ten Children

I hope no one gets mad at me for today's post. I apologize in advance if I offend anyone.

I make it my business to try to read the news everyday and the article My Ten Children was recommended for me by a friend who obviously enjoys listening to me rant and rave.
 The minute I saw a lone woman sitting among a flock of children, I knew I was not going to enjoy the story. I allowed myself the faint flicker of hope the article would be an inspiring one about a woman who lost her husband or suffered an illness and would have a powerful story to tell about overcoming grief and living as a single mother - or pulling through her sickness through the love of her children and family.
But, sadly, the article was, as I had suspected, rubbish in it's purest form and I make no apologies for the sentiment.

The woman in the article claimed she always wanted ten children and I see nothing wrong with having ten children (or more), IF you can comfortably provide for them financially as well as provide a stable environment in which they can grow (note I said comfortably, which means not having to sacrifice one thing to provide another).This story, however, tells of a woman who has ten children from five different men from the age of sixteen, none of whom she is currently involved with at present due to "relationship difficulties".

BEFORE anyone puts me on blast, let me say quickly, having a man or being married does not validate a woman. I believe it IS better to walk away from a bad/abusive/self destructing relationship than to stay and become a resentful, bitter, cold hearted human being prone to suicide or murder. BUT, if your life's goal is to have ten children, part of the plan should be to produce them with a partner that will provide some kind of role model/father figure/moral support/help/guidelines/etc...It seems this was her intention, but sadly, it did not quite work out that way.

The article makes it look like this mother moved from place to place, and man to man, being so frustrated she left the island for months after her fifth child and giving credit to her family in America for providing material necessities. Even with all that she was determined to have ten children, and subsequently produced four more. There is no reference to this woman seeking an education, or doing anything productive or profitable for the good of herself and these children. Yes, she works, but at one point she mentions it was off and on.

The story ends with the woman ( now a forty year old grandmother still raising her own two year old son) stating she wants her children to get good jobs and be independent. She has advised women NOT to go through what she went through, but it seems for the fact that she "regrets the fathers because of the stress to get support" for her children. She has also advised her daughter (not her son who also has children) not to get anymore children and I will bite my tongue as far as that is concerned.

If the article was meant to promote some kind of positive re-enforcement I don't think it succeed. Perhaps it was meant to show a woman who "made it" through all odds, but made it to where I am still uncertain.
 I cannot deny these children seem greatly loved - and sometimes love may be all you need to get by. Perhaps that was the synopsis of all this.
In my opinion, it seems to highlight poor judgment by black single mothers.Even though she advises against taking the route she took, her glorified photo and story seem to only act as a beacon for other women constantly procreating to think - "if she can do it, why can't we."

But this blog is only about MY opinion (because it's MY blog). Read it for yourself if you wish and feel free to put me on blast if you think I am wrong. I can handle it.

Bisous!!xoxo
http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/my-10-children/