Having Children

* Re “Choose Children Only if You Choose to Care for Them,” Valley Perspective, March 18.

Marty Rapp Sayles must be about my age. She is quite correct that women--married or not--who choose to become mothers, should do so with the commitment to care for children. Of course, some would accuse her of some bigotry when it comes to the huge percentage of unwed girls who give birth to a new child every year and then fail to raise them in even a minimally acceptable manner. Also, some single mothers who are quite able financially to support children with their careers would also complain about her thesis. But, ideally, a child can best benefit in developing into the best he or she can be from having two parents, at least one of whom is there (at least most of the time) to provide care, guidance, nourishment, and support.

I have four adult children. All benefited from a mostly stay-at-home mom. All are productive college graduates (the last one this coming June), nonsmokers, nondrinkers and hard-working citizens. None are parents yet, but when they are, I am certain they’ll be very good ones. They will model themselves largely after their parents and grandparents.

This Victorian model (according to Rapp Sayles), so out of date not that long ago, sounds pretty logical today.

SOL TAYLOR

Sherman Oaks

*

* Great discussion by Sayles. Yes, there are six billion of us crowding the world now. Yes, some folks have kids for the wrong reasons. And yes, some will grow up in an emotional void. Sayles gives some good suggestions for focusing on one’s real priorities before “automatically” popping out babies.

Now, if we can just get the right people to read it.

GREG GOLDEN

Van Nuys