I had to register my visa at the airport in Recife, so spent the day in the city. Only rice and beans means finding new places off the grid—but Brazil hasn’t failed me yet. Since I was early, I sat under a tree because air conditioning in airports is too cold. A lady passed me by and rumbled in her purse—oh no! I thought—she thinks I am a beggar! But she whipped out a tract and walked on before I could say anything. So apparently I don’t look poor, but I do look lost.
Someone else thinks 30 day experiments are cool: http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days.html
I’ve always wanted a large family. It happened when I was around 7 and only had one sister (and babies don’t count). No fun. Went to my friend’s house: 8 brothers and sisters. Always fun. What happened was I met them; the positive examples of good, large families.
So when I was 16 and I told people I wanted 10 kids (seven boys and three girls), they laughed, and it surprised me. First of all, I thought I was invincible and could do anything, and second, I hadn’t really thought through what all birth required of me. And after birth. Forever.
But beyond this, I couldn’t understand people’s general idea that large families were bad. And then I began to work in the ghetto. I began to see poverty. I went to Brazil, where I saw a man riding a bike with his wife and three children on the bike with him. I learned that they would live off of less than $2.50 a day. I saw what that looked like. I learned what life was like without washing machines and I figured four children would be a better estimate for me.
But I still treasure the idea of a large family. And if that is what ends up happening, then bring it. I am still invincible. But I also understand why so many people have a connection between large families, poor decisions, and poverty. It is true: statistics link these factors. In third world countries in general, if you have a large family, you are poor.
And when these same people have more education (especially females), and better living conditions of the people, family size goes down. (http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_reveals_new_insights_on_poverty.html) Part of that makes me sad. Because I like big families. But it is an underlying change of discipline and self-control rather than the idea that “kids are bad” that is making a difference in these families.
Not being crass, but I’ve come to see that we have many pleasures in life, sex being one of them. Most of the pleasures we have in life come with a price tag—such as going to the movies and eating delicious food. In poverty, those are all taken away. And that is beyond frustrating. What do you think is going to happen if you have nothing but you and him/her? A lot of kids.
Education is changing things because it is teaching about long term investment rather than short term pleasure. It is giving other options. It is teaching discipline. Perhaps not in the way that pleases my Christian upbringing, but it is a start. But I still like big families.
