In completely non-shocking news, Michelle Duggar does not believe in overpopulation. Along with other non-beliefs such as birth control and spending more than $25 for a haircut, Duggar says that "the idea of overpopulation is not accurate." Whatever that means. I'm not sure how an actual thing that exists can't be accurate, but logic isn't Michelle's strong suit. What is is making babies and she's going to keep on doing it because every baby is like a flower. Or something.
Listen, if that lady wants to keep beating up her uterus until it falls right out, that's her business. But she should at least recognize that more children do take up more resources, no matter how many hand-me-downs are worn. Those things have to be washed, do they not?
On the other side, you've got people who actually plan their family based on the potential carbon footprint. You know those people, right?
Before having children (obviously because after you have children, you kind of forget about all of this stuff), I've heard friends declare that they will only have one child, in consideration of the environment. I've also heard the "two children maximum" argument because by stopping at two, you've created replacements for yourself and your partner, and that's enough.
Yes, these people are generally from Berkeley, and they consider the environment before their own mothers, who would love to have some grandchildren before they're too old to enjoy them or, god forbid, dead.
While I do applaud the thought put into procreating in a responsible manner, I also know that I never consulted Al Gore when I got pregnant. I knew I couldn't handle a lot and, quite frankly, was skeptical about even having one child. That need trumped the need to keep disposable diapers out of the landfills, even though having only two children is somewhat helpful. But what's really helpful is knowing your limits. Not so much for the air quality, but for your quality of life.
The point being, we should be aware of our environmental impact whether through family planning, or reducing, reusing, and recycling. Which means, those Duggars better start walking and riding their bikes while carrying their food in their hands, if they want to stop being a huge drain on Mother Earth. And people that are more concerned about the environment than their own personal happiness might try to find a balance as well. Might I suggest a family of four that shops vintage and uses public transportation?
Did you consider the environment when planning your family?
Image via Arenamontanus/Flickr
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Comments 95
I only have one and no I did not consider the environment when we planned for him.
Leave the duggars alone, they are not hurting anymore. They are listening to god which so many of us need to start doing
I considered overpopulation, and I considered the effect on my body. It's foolish not to.
The only problem I have with the Duggars is that I don't think you can truly give our children all the attention they need on an individual level when you have 19 kids.
There were times when I felt overlooked or forgotten, and I grew up in a house with just four other sibs. But, it's their decision and if it works for them, more power to them.
Also, living in rural south Florida, I see a lot of people whose culture embraces the "have as many kids as G-D will allow" mentality and this is very selfish and ignorant if you do not have the stability to raise such a large family. The Duggars are fortunate that they can support their brood but I see kids go hungry, dressed in rags, and with a bleak future ahead of them, statistically speaking - for no reason whatsoever. Even if you don't consider the global impact stemming from the number of children you bear, at LEAST consider the impact on your own children.
That's fine that the Duggars are nice people they do good charity whatever, I get that. But how can you deny the fact we are at 7 BILLION in our population. You are all getting so defensive, everyone has an opinion. Mine is this.
We need to start being socially responsible. Our grandmothers were having nine, ten children....that's unheard of now. I don't think michelle Duggard has ever had a freakin period. We have babies dying from hunger, I understand they take care of their own and don't mooch but that doesnt change the fact we ARE leaving a carbon footprint. We ARE using up our resources. She needs to quit having children. With that being said, our baby boomer generation is getting up there, and they were a HUGE boost in the population, maybe that will decline.
I only have my son and no I did not consider think about the environment when I had him. I do my part to care for the environment, but i wouldnt put it into consideration when planning kids
No I do not think about the environment when planning my family