Chapter 6: Parenthood 1. Pregnancy

The joys and responsibilities of parenthood m rich family experience and bring the particular couple into the endless process of renewal and ongoing of all the interests and values of the race. The world is constantly being fashioned and re-fashioned in its homes. To say that the social virtues of tenderness, responsibility, sympathy and devotion have their roots in parental experience is true and important, but pale compared with the radiant joy that parents have in the renewal of themselves and their love in children. In the family plan therefore children should have. a central place. It is better to spend money for children than for "nice things" or an expensive manner of living.

A mother of a fine family says, "While there are old wives and some young ones who shake their heads and sympathize with the pregnant young woman, there are others who have passed through a creative, vivid adventure, where in spite of physical ills she can walk on air for pure joy, well tell the truth if she will but turn her face that way. Let her experience the joy of passing on through her body a torch of life that comes from endless ages and will go on infinitely. That is rising to the heights of life on the dramatic level."

Because the experience of parenthood is a normal and desirable part of life, it tends to keep the parents young and vital. To be a mother of a suitable number of children is good for the physical and nervous health of the wife. While children sometimes tax the nervous poise of parents, the women who have none are even more likely to suffer from nervous ills.