November 25, 1997
Well, it's happened again, folks - the entire nation is entranced by the story of what is, in reality, a chemically induced freak accident of birth: the McCaughey septuplets. Out there in the wilds of Des Moines, Iowa, a "shy seamstress" as she has been called by the media has given birth to seven new children, all bursting from the loins of the fertility drug Pergonal. Why Pergonal? Because she and her husband had trouble conceiving
their FIRST child, now two years old. Eight children...eight.
Now perhaps I am the only one who finds this action irresponsible and selfish, but I can't help thinking of all the times those parents will not be there 100% for each and every one of those kids...the things they will not be able to give them...the lack of intense one-on-one that is necessary to raise a child with total love and caring. This is not to say that parents must stop at one child - many large families can grow together in love - but as they say, there is a limit.
But don't worry folks. The community is pitching in! Procter and Gamble is once again jumping on the media bandwagon and donating diapers. It has been said that the community will buy them a house, even possibly a college education. But eventually these cute little kids will start to grow as children do. The novelty will wear off, the community will slide back into their own lives, and the support will end. Then what? Where will the money
come from? The clothes, the food, the medicine - the necessities and the luxuries? The time and energy - the undivided love and compassion? I sure hope the McCaugheys thought of this before taking the first dose of the drug that fostered the children. Seven beautiful children - yes. And two irresponsible parents (not to mention irresponsible members of the business
community standing behind them).
But not to worry. While they sit in their new gift of a home trying to figure out how they will give a truly quality life to the whole litter, when they are too tired and worn out to attend 100% to their children's needs (though I am sure they will try), they will probably not have time to think of the many children languishing in the world without food, without shelter, with no families - waiting for adoptions or foster homes. Instead
they will try to deal with their quoted "gift from God". And maybe someday they will realize that God also expects us to be responsible and intelligent and think of the consequences before we take any action, chemical or other.
--John Didonna
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