my baby, an Addiction?

by Lacey


In a recent article on MSN, Martha Brockenbrough compares a woman's desire to have multiple children to an addiction. She explains that the reasons a woman decides to have a child are the same reasons that she might succumb to alcoholism or other addictions. She dubs them "bumpaholics," in reference to the baby bump.

"The Belly-Rubbing High"
http://health.msn.com/pregnancy/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100243083&page=1

What a shame that bearing children has been reduced to an addiction akin to alcoholism, that wanting to be a mother means one has a serious disease of inadequacy, that being "only a mom" is something of which to be ashamed. Why cannot loving and caring for one's children be a natural, wonderful responsibility, a worthy occupation? Why cannot one's motivation to become pregnant (or pregnant again) be simply because she loves her husband and wants to have a family with him? Can a woman not enjoy being pregnant without being accused of having an unhealthy, financially restricting, earth-destroying, society-imposing addiction?


Addiction!?! Is this woman truly implying that having children is like an obsession with drugs? I'm not sure I even have the words to address that implication. Frankly, it's preposterous and degrading! I refuse to be compared to a drug addict or an alcoholic.

I adore my daughter, but not because I yearn for the attention she gets me or because I have a self-worth issue. Do not mistake me. I do have a self-worth issue. The issue is that on my own, I am worthless; however, my daughter is unable to heal that. She is unable to even put a band-aid on it. Only one person can remedy my self-worth issue, and it is not myself as so many would lead one to believe. It is Jesus the Christ.

You have heard it repeatedly, but how true it is. We live in a fallen world. A world that demeans the value of human life in every possible way. A world where children are not beautiful blessings, but rather inconveniences, financial burdens, addictions. They are things that can be purchased, sold, collected, or thrown away at one's discretion. How horrifying!

Do we as believers of the Gospel show those who believe this way that we value human life... pregnancy, children, family? How do we do it? Is it simply by defying them and living our lives in our little bubbles? Is it by holding a sign up in front of an abortion clinic? Is it by praying for them? How?

I'd like to know what you think.