(2003-12-23) Maybe One

Dave Pollard points to interview with Bill Mc Kibben based on his book Maybe One (ISBN:0452280923 ) about having a single child as a way of reducing the world population. More of your time is the most important thing of all. That's what we're running short of in this country. And it's one of the great pleasures of having just one kid--the chance to spend a lot of time with them and be better able to focus on them. I agree that having, say, 5 kids spreads you way too thin. And there's no question that going from 1 kid to 2 is a huge difference, at least when they're toddlers (because it's much harder for 1 parent to do non-kid stuff). But, having 2 boys that are 2-1/2 years apart, I find that they spend lots of time playing together, and that's a great thing (for them and us). It would be nice if an Extended Family provided that companionship, but that's a separate issue (worth discussing).