This country is one that has always prided itself on its freedoms. If the government mandates forced population control, it would go against everything this country stands for. The United States of America is the land of the free. We have freedom of choice that many countries do not. America has never been a place where the government invoked rules that invade our personal lives. I agree that we are using all of our resources quickly. However, I believe that the key to increasing the quality of life for all Americans in future generations does not lie in mandated population control, but in Education.
In the past, many adults had children because it was culturally expected, a need to carry on “The Family Name”. Our ancestral relatives pressured by society reproduced to ensure the survival of the bloodline. A man was considered a “bona fide man” if he fathered many children, the woman considered a “superior wife” if she bore these children to her husband. Another valid reason was the lack of modern birth control. Birth control techniques were not as advanced as they are today therefore there were larger families before 1900. The current trend of smaller families is rising on its own and many partners today are having just one-child by choice. The National Average of children per family has declined drastically over the past thirty-five years. “The preference for smaller families is evident. In 1972, 56 percent of those asked in a large national opinion study thought that three or more children were ideal; in a similar study done in 1998 that percentage had dropped to 39.1” (Newman, Ph.D., 2001)
The Term Paper on Ecological Systems Theory Child Family Bronfenbrenner
... at-home mother, working father, and sibling children. Single parent families, generation skipping families, and other non-traditional groupings are more ... social creature the quest broadened to include ways to control the environment and to understand himself. Philosophers have struggled ... a potential for conflict between cultures represented in this country. We may come together to form one society, ...
Economics plays role in a couple’s choice of having fewer children. Prices are sky rocketing for everything, housing, food, transportation cost and not to mention medical care. Two paychecks are better than one when it comes to cover expenses and live a comfortable life. It is widely believed that having only one child somewhat assures this secure life so sought after will be a reality. “However, it is not based on scientific principles, but on vague beliefs that developmental arguments against only-children have been disproven, and that one-child families are better ecologically.” (Talbot, 1998).
Many women today are choosing to have just a single child because they do not wish to take the time out from their careers to have and raise more than one child. Of course, this differs from the mom’s of the 1950’s. Let us face it most modern woman do not wish to be another “June Cleaver”, who’s only job is to cook, clean and take care of her husband and their children. Women of this generation are independent and want more in their lives than just diapers and pots and pans. However many chose to have at least a second child because of the stigma attached to the only child. R. Rowland wrote that Chuck White in a research study he did one hundred years ago stated only children were spoiled, showed no self-control, egotistical brats. (Rowland, 1998).
The Chinese feared they were raising a generation of “little emperors” when their only child policy was in effect. Looking back 20 years later they found the only children were not particularly spoiled and found no difference in only children’s relationships with friends when studied with children who had siblings. (Newman, Ph.D.) In the absence of siblings, parents cultivate the tools of sharing and feeling for others and are the best early teachers because of trust and faith children have in their parents. We must take into consideration their quality of lifestyle when making the decision about the number of children we have.
Like our ancestral relatives, most of us will continue to populate the world for it is in our nature to do so. We should endeavor to love and cherish our offspring; strive to spoil them with our love not material possessions. Provide for them what they need in life and if able, what they want. Endeavor to make as many opportunities available to them as far as education, so that illiteracy will not hinder future generations. The more education parents have the better they can provide for their children. With better educated parents who make better money perhaps the current trend of having only one child will diminish and we can all experience the joys of a large loving family without the fear that our government will make this choice for us.
The Essay on What Is Wisdom Children Parents Life
What is Wisdom? Webster's New World Dictionary defines the word wisdom as "the quality of being wise; power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding, etc. ; good judgment; sagacity (penetrating intelligence and sound judgment)." In this paper, I will present my interpretation of one instance of how wisdom is obtained and ...
References
Falbo, PhD., T. (n.d.).
, Myths about only children.
Retrieved Aug. 26, 2005, from UTOPIA Web site: http://utopia.utexas.edu/articles/opa/only_children.html
Newman, Ph.D., S., (2003), Parenting an only child: The joys and challenges of
raising your one and only. Excerpt from Book Retrieved Aug 15, 2005, From,
http://www.drtoy.com/book_shelf/newman_excerpt.html
Rowland, R. (1998), Benefits and drawbacks to raising an only child.
Retrieved Aug. 26, 2005, from CNN.Com Web site: http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9808/07/only.child/index.html
