Mother Declares Her Children are the "biggest Regret of her life"

[lynn82md.livejournal.com]

You know how some of the opposition like to pull the "many women regret abortion" as a way to try to get abortion illegalized? Well, you can show them this article of a woman who regrets having kids.

Let's talk about the mom who regrets her children. Last week, the Daily Mail published a first-person story by Isabella Dutton, a 57 year old mother of two who declared her children to be "the biggest regret of her life." Since the Daily Mail is possibly the internet's leading purveyor of "human interest in hating other humans" stories, it goes without saying that the article incited (and was intended to incite) a monstrous tsunami of scorn.

"A mother could never regret her children." It's a truism. But considering the life-altering effect of children on their mothers, it seems impossible that it could really be a universal truth. Isabella Dutton is clearly very unhappy. She feels trapped by the intense demands of her children, calling them parasites. I know lots of mothers who feel this way sometimes. But feeling like your kids are sucking your life force is one thing. Feeling like they "give nothing meaningful back in return"? That's something different.

Dutton believes she simply lacked the wiring for motherhood. She never wanted kids, but didn't want to deny her husband the experience. But then she says some things that make me wonder whether her feelings might have as much to do with the choices she made as a parent than her choice to be a parent in the first place.

I did leave a comment on that link in the comment section because I was pissed off at what the woman in the article said about women who work outside the home as well as others in the comment section. It lead to me writing this:
( My Comment )

Paul Ryan Tells Anti-Abortion Advocates to Broaden Their Reach

[lynn82md.livejournal.com]

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., called for anti-abortion rights advocates to reach out to pro-abortion rights advocates Thursday evening, making him the latest Republican to urge like-minded voters to be open to a group not traditionally viewed as conservative.

"To advance the pro-life cause, we need to work with people who consider themselves pro-choice, because our task isn't to purge our ranks. It's to grow them," Ryan said at a D.C. gala for the Susan B. Anthony List, a political action committee that helps anti-abortion candidates get elected to Congress.

The former GOP vice presidential nominee and current House Budget Committee chairman told those in the audience they needed to "expand our horizon" but urged them to "stay vigilant" and to work "with patience" and "with good cheer."

"We don't want a country where abortion is simply outlawed," Ryan said. "We want a country where it isn't even considered."

The Wisconsin congressman, who headlined the event, told the group it needed to "show the pro-life cause isn't just the cause of the unborn" but a "deep affirmation of human rights."

( More )

Cross posted to we_r_the_middle