Why Have Kids?: A New Mom Explores The Truth About Parenting And Happiness (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
I find that in life there are few things one should be absolutist about.The thing I most like about this book is the non-absolutist view that the confessedly-feminist author has on the parental issues she takes on.This book is mostly about the prejudice that women/mothers face. And mostly, this prejudice on how to be a perfect mother, is self-afflicted.More that a call to arms, so women can help their "Sisters", this is food for thought: a call to reflect on what really mothers in mothering (and fathering) a child, building a family, whatever shape or form.Still, if you nurture anti-feminist white-blood cells, keep away. I dream of a day where there is no stigma attached to making the decision to be child free. It was really refreshing to see a parent arguing that having children is a choice, that it isn't the right choice for everyone, and that making that choice is NOT inherently selfish. I thought her points were for the most point well reasoned, and she used a great deal of recent studies to back herself up. Is it the best researched book of its type out there? Probably not, but it was a good book to get your feet wet with. I am a historical archaeologist and am writing my Masters thesis on the link between large farm families and economic success. That being said, I wish that Valenti had written a chapter discussing how drastically our perspective on childhood has changed over the last 100 years. She briefly mentions this in the conclusion, but only writes a line or two about it. I feel like addressing this changing view of childhood really could have enhanced her discussion of rising rates of parental dissatisfaction.
What do You think about Why Have Kids?: A New Mom Explores The Truth About Parenting And Happiness (2012)?
This author packs a ton of information in a paragraph. Raises interesting points. Blah blah blah.
—Keebler
Never really asks or answers the titular question. Is not as controversial as Valenti hopes.
—joey
I think that this book might be a better read for people who already have kids.
—divya
Less of an anti-parenting manifesto than the title suggests.
—Sayeda
