Sticking Up for Angelina...and for All You Mommyfolk to Many

So, late Tuesday night as I unwound from my Brownie Troop meeting (16 first grade girls + a frost-your-own-cupcake activity = pounding headache), I flipped on Fox News while I sorted through papers and prepped for the morning.

I happened to click on just as Bill O'Reilly began discussing the ABC News story about Angelina Jolie that theorizes that she's addicted to having babies/adopting children. O'Reilly thought the story crossed the line (so do I); the two experts he had on disagreed with him, both believing that having multiple children can be a means of masking depression or plain old narcissism. Check out the video from The O'Reilly Factor here.

It's sad that having a big family is suspect, no matter where you fall on the socio-economic ladder. Angelina isn't clipping coupons, I'm betting; yet mothers of families with many children who do live frugally and do their best to make make ends meet are usually received with scorn, too, as in - Why have so many children if you can't afford them?

We here at Casa de Monkeys are quite happy with our three. While I know and will admit my limits as a mother and a parent, unless the children in question are neglected and in danger it's out of line to voice your opinion on the size of someone's family.

And as for narcissism and by extension, living vicariously through your children, that can happen just as easily with having only one child. Sometime it happens far more easily, as a large family means you have to spread your attention around the herd rather than placing Darling Baby on a pedestal for the world to adore.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic, a touchy one - please be thoughtful and cordial in your commenting!

WM