"None is enough"

In the article None is Enough I gained more of an insight on why woman decide not to have kids. I didn't realize or even acknowledge why some chose not to raise a family. " A 2010 Pew Research report showed that childlessness has risen across all racial and ethnic groups, adding up to about 1 in 5 American woman who end their childbearing years maternity-free, compared with 1 in 10 in the 1970's". No one asks "oh why did you decide to have kids?" It tends to be asked as "why did you decide not to have kids?" People don't understand the concept that deciding not to have children is ok and people can make up their own minds. When Stephanie Bohon asked a class if they planned on having kids, they all raised their hands. When she asked them why, they all went silent and no one had an answer. This proves that young ones feel that they need to have kids and this is instilled in their brains. They never thought being childless was acceptable or even an option. For those childless, there are plenty of opportunities they get to take because it would be difficult to do if kids were in the picture. They can "buy an unnecessary beautiful object, plan trips with aging parents, sleep in, spend a day without speaking to a single person, send care packages to nieces and nephews, enroll in language classes, and go out for drinks with a friend on the spur of the moment". With kids these things would be possible to do but it would certainly be more complicated. "These women are inventing a new female archetype, one for whom having it all doesn't mean having a baby". In addition some women don't feel the need to have kids simply because they don't like the noise of them. Others argue since they teach kids or council them they feel that is enough and they don't need their own. Mothering is extremely important to some women because they grew up liking the idea that one day they can have kids of their own and have a family. Others think children are not an necessity in life and they can be happy without them. The main point is that every woman can make the decision on whether to have kids or not and they shouldn't be judged either way. People need to respect other peoples decisions whether they agree with them or not.

Interview

Me: Mom and dad I first need to ask you a few questions about parenting and how you raised me and my sister. Mom why did you decide to have two kids?

Mom: I grew up with having 2 older brothers and I loved having other siblings around for company so I knew when I was older I would want to get married and have children.

Me: Dad do you regret not having more kids or did you know two was enough?

Dad: I love having two children because it is a big responsibility to make sure you and your sister grow up to be successful and live a happy life.

Mom: If I could go back I would have another child and I would want it to be a boy because we already have two girls in the house but of course I am fine with having two daughters.

Me: Do you guys like living in Mansfield or would you want to live somewhere else:

Mom: I love Mansfield but I wish we lived closer to the water because when I grew up I lived right on the ocean and I had so many great times in the summer being able to just walk to the beach in five minutes. I also wish we lived closer to my friends and family that I grew up with because I wish we could see them more often since your grandmother cant drive herself to Mansfield.
Dad: I do not regret living in Mansfield at all. I think the location is a prime spot and the school system is great and the community is very close.

Me: What are the challenges you face raising two kids?

Mom: I think the toughest part is watching you guys grow up. I already have one in college and you are close so it is hard to watch you be independent and do things on your own. As parents we can only do so much as you grow up and we can only hope you follow the path that we guide you in.

Dad: The toughest part for me is to make sure you guys are always safe. I cant be with you 24/7 so when I am not with you guys I worry because I realize that I am not always right there next to you. Its hard to see you guys mature but I know its something as a parent I have to do and understand that every parents has to let their child go at some point.

Me: What are some memories that you remember me doing as a infant?

Mom: I remember when you said your first word and walked for the first time. You always had the biggest smile on your face and you were the happiest child ever. It was so hard dropping you off to preschool for the first time and then watching you go to kindergarten, your first day of high school and now you are so close to graduation. It goes by so fast and but I still remember every detail of your childhood.

Dad: I remember going to your first basketball and softball games. Also I remember going to your first dance recital and watching you dance on stage for the first time in front of a huge audience. Just like your mom said it goes by fast but we enjoy seeing you guys become independent and watching you follow your dreams.

Me: Mom how do you time manage having kids with a job?

Mom: Well it takes organization and I am very good at multitasking. I can get things done and can plan things ahead of time.

Me: What are your goals for me and my sister?

Mom: My goals would be watching you go to college and pursue your career and watching you  follow your dreams. As you get older you get more independent and you get to make big decisions.

Dad:  I want to see you  get married and have kids so we can be grandparents. I hope you live a happy and healthy life. I want you to be able to travel the world and see all different kinds of places with your kids and I want your kids to have the luxuries that you had as a kid. But mostly my goal is for you to live a life filled with joy.

Me: Ok thanks mom and dad for your time with answering all these questions.

Representation of Love

"Love Story"
By: Taylor swift

We were both young when I first saw you.
I close my eyes and the flashback starts:
I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air.

See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns.
See you make your way through the crowd
And say, "Hello,"
Little did I know...

That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles,
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"
And I was crying on the staircase
Begging you, "Please don't go"
And I said...

Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all that's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess,
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes."

So I sneak out to the garden to see you.
We keep quiet 'cause we're dead if they knew
So close your eyes... escape this town for a little while.
Oh, oh.

'Cause you were Romeo – I was a scarlet letter,
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet."
But you were everything to me,
I was begging you, "Please don't go."
And I said...

Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all that's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess.
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes."

Romeo, save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel.
This love is difficult but it's real.
Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess.
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes."

Oh, oh.

I got tired of waiting
Wondering if you were ever coming around.
My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town.
And I said...

"Romeo, save me, I've been feeling so alone.
I keep waiting for you but you never come.
Is this in my head? I don't know what to think."
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said...

"Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone.
I love you, and that's all I really know.
I talked to your dad – go pick out a white dress
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes."

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

'Cause we were both young when I first saw you.

Daily Exposures

On September 27th our class's daily exposure was on a movie clip called "Flawed". It depicted the point that not everyone is going to fit in and everyone is different.  The clip states, "Why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary?" Although people try to act a different way to feel cool or important it is better to just act like yourself. Everyone in the world has flaws but that makes them them. If you try to change your flaws then you wouldn't be you anymore and life isn't about trying to impress others its about feeling comfortable with who you are. I picked this daily exposure because it stood out to me. No one in the world is perfect and people have insecurities but that is normal. After watching this clip I realized its ok to be different and if other people judge you it doesn't matter because not everyone is going to accept you but the ones that do are the people who actually matter.

Flizzerhuzza

One day Sally decided she just couldn't deal with doing everything around the house. With five kids and two dogs there was just too much stuff needed to be done around the house. Whether it was making appointments or running errands Sally had no time for herself or her kids. Sally needed something that would do all her chores for her and would make the meals for the family. In result she invented the Flizzerhuzza. The Flizzerhuzza was a robot that could do amazing things. Not only could it cook meals, clean up the house, but it could also drive so when the kids needed to go somewhere the Flizzerhuzza would be there to take them any place they needed to go. Inventing this saved Sally, allowing her to have free time so she could  spend quality time with her family rather than always being on the go doing something.

Difficult conversation

One rainy morning Maya sat at her kitchen table waiting to see if she had gotten into her dream school, Harvard. She had been working up to this goal of hers since she was a little girl because she wanted to follow into her mom's footsteps who also went to Harvard. As she nervously opened the letter the first word she read was "sorry". Right then and there she knew she hadn't gotten into Harvard and all she thought was "how am I going to tell my mom"? A few moments later her mother walked into the room and she had a huge grin on her face knowing that the letter was coming that day. Right away she knew something was wrong and she asked "what happened"? Maya trying to hold back the tears, says "I got declined". Knowing her mother would be disappointed Maya also knew her mother would not be mad at her knowing her daughter worked extremely hard. Although this conversation was difficult to talk about Maya knew it was something her mother needed to be told and even though she was upset she realized there are plenty other good schools she would get into.