Think It Over Thursday: Regrets of motherhood

When I read about this mother who openly confesses that motherhood was the worst thing to ever happen to her, I felt for her, for her children and for everyone impacted by her essay. I think this is a perspective of parenting that needs to be heard that could help highlight how some people just shouldn't or don’t want to be parents, and that by choosing not to have children they may be better able to make a positive difference in the world.

That said, I really felt that by using actual photos and names of her loved ones, her story went from a moment of necessary truth to something darker, something sadder. What these people must feel when they read that their mother wishes they’d never been born! Many people have simply stated that her letter should have been anonymous, or featured aliases, and I am inclined to agree.

Much of her essay seems to contradict itself—the part where she has another child even while resenting her first one because it would be “selfish” to only have one really got to me—but overall, I do think it’s a perspective that at least deserves consideration, especially with so many politicians hell-bent on taking away women’s medical choices and the availability of our means to maintain our own body autonomy. I just don’t agree with the manner of delivery.

What do you think about this mother’s confession?

Then there’s also Patton Oswalt’s stirring words following the Boston Marathon tragedy this week. As controversial as his statement seems, I think it’s possibly the best paragraph after a tragedy that I’ve ever found comfort with. I still don't have my own words to talk about what happened, but Patton's give me hope.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia