27 February 2009

Lonely vs Alone

Thomas Beatie - The Pregnant Man

There are those of us who love our own company to the extend that we could be classed as recluses. Some loners shrug the labels off by arguing that "you can never be alone as you are always with yourself ". When asked if it isn't a lonely existence, often the response is that loneliness and being alone are worlds apart. Many of us have felt deep loniness in a room full of people.

For those with children, ask yourselves if loneliness or fear of being alone were part of the reason(s) you chose to have a child. As more people outside of the convensional "family" template are able to choose the terms in which they become parents, society appears to be reeling at incredible stories emerging as fast as the technology allows.

Who can forget gay fathers Barrie and Tony Drewitt-Barlow or the pregnant man Thomas Beatie whom, it was announced late last year, was expecting his second child. Last month, Alfie Patten became a father at the age of 13. In the same breath, we let us revisit the tragic story of Baby P, and the almost unbelievable chain of events that followed his death. Finally, but far from being least, look at the case of Nadya Suleman who gave birth to 8 babies despite having 6 others at home.


Why do people have children?

Procreation? Loneliness? To leaving a legacy? Mistake? Fear of being alone? Love? Hate?


Who decides who can and cannot have children?


Nadia Suleman - Pregnant with Octoplets

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