Let me just go ahead and save you the time of posting your comments when I tell you I have four children: Yes, I know you think the world is overpopulated. But guess what? I don’t care.

Let’s be honest here — some people think that having four children is the most irresponsible thing in the world and trust me, those people never hesitate to share that fact with me. But honestly, to me, four does not seem like that many. I mean, sure it’s a little crazy right now and there’s not a lot of relaxing in my life going on, but it’s not like I’m running a freaking zoo over here either.

By now, I’m pretty accustomed to the downright hostile comments from people I will never meet about how many children I have (and newsflash: I might want more!), but by far, the most common theme I hear is how I shouldn’t have more kids because the world is overpopulated. Which frankly, just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.

Let me get this straight. So, because the world is already overpopulated and because in some people’s minds that means our world is going straight down the pooper, therefore, I should limit my family size because we will eat up vital resources?

Um, no. It doesn’t work that way.

Maybe I should care about overpopulation, but I just don’t. Call me ignorant, but it seems to me that there are bigger problems in the world than how many children I do or do not have. Maybe by having more children I can teach them to speak out against racism or give the world a scientist who will cure cancer or maybe just a person who makes life a better place and plants flowers that are pretty. Is that really so wrong? I just don’t get the argument that we should limit family size based on the fear that the world is overpopulated. If we’re really that concerned about overpopulation, shouldn’t we be doing more productive things with our lives than writing hateful comments to people like me? How about organizing a recycling drive or saving electricity by not using your phone, hmmm? You have your priorities; I have mine — so leave me alone.

In my mind, it doesn’t make sense to limit my family size because the world might be doomed. It’s like the struggle I fight every day to not enjoy my own life because there are others suffering in the world. I aim to live a life of balance and mindfulness, but also to live, you know? Trust me when I say that we recycle more than the average Joe and I’m not burning up a hole in the ozone layer with our homegrown garden or the 500 jars of jam I make every summer. I’m doing my part to be environmentally-friendly, promise. But the truth is, I can’t live my life for other people, I can only live it for myself. There are people getting cancer at this very minute and babies hurting and children starving — I am very aware of these facts, but I do believe that by raising a happy family, I can combat some of the pure crap in the world right in my own home. Is that really so terrible?

Not to mention, we could all die at any moment by an asteroid or Ebola or probably something plotted by ISIS. So let’s remember the bright side, shall we?

More on large families

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