"A Stroke of Good Fortune"

The sad state of things never seems to end these days. I have frequently come across the "childfree" movement online. Like landmines, these blogs lie in wait-- I'm searching for some commonplace topic on Google and wham! a "child free by choice" blog. Well good for you lady, is all I think and then usually move on.

Today I was in a curious mood and perused one of these sites. Oh dear. It seems many ever-childless people who make a conscious effort not to have kids call people with children "breeders." Once again I am reduced to the status of livestock! One page had a whole list of "good reasons" why people choose not to have kids, most of them being ecological. Another posted a list of retorts for people who ask nosy questions about why one doesn't have kids.

Now I have to confess, I left harassing messages on most of the blogs I found (shame on me). I know, dear readers, many of you are thinking "But Sarah, that is their choice." Sure, I find their choice rather selfish but according to the list the proper response to that is that I'm being selfish for unleashing more resource consumers on the world.

But people, they are clamoring for rights! How come every kind of personal choice requires activism? Rights for the intentionally childless? Oh please! There are lots of supposed rights I'd like because I chose to live in Kentucky, send my husband through school, or work as a writer. I can see it now: the Defense League for those Who Ghost Write, Live in Rural America, and Help Educate a Spouse. Kinda catchy.

I know these folks are confident their 401ks alone will take care of them when they are old; however when inflation has ruined them financially I hope my kids are around to forgive their nastiness, help them by paying taxes, and perhaps give them just a little kick in the shins when no one is looking.

(Read "A Stroke of Good Fortune" for Flannery O'Connor's perspective on people who are terrified of children.)