Noura Al Bistami
Ms. Dania Adra
English 203
21 October 2015
Premature
Parenting
Becoming
a parent is part of being human; at least that’s what we are born into
assuming. Throughout history, women become mothers as soon as they reach
adulthood, sometimes at the mere age of just 12. Nowadays, becoming a mother is
seen as a ‘must’ after, say, two years of marriage, maximum. That being said,
couples marry during their mid-twenties, sometimes earlier, and sometimes
later. Some women prefer being single mothers, and this has increased a lot
today. I disagree quite strongly with being a mother before your mid-twenties,
or even the age of 27. Being human, to me, does not only encompass populating
the world with babies, but it means enjoying your life and knowing who you are
as a person before bringing about another generation. People argue that they
are ‘ready’ to nurture and care for babies, and they would still be students in
universities earning their BA. I don’t believe a person is ‘ready’ unless they
have gained enough wisdom through age and through experiences. At the age of
20, a person had just surpassed the teenage years, and they are most probably
still a student. This article challenges my point with the use of biological
facts. Firstly, Pacey states that there are “numerous press and media reports highlighting
the dangers of older parenthood” (“Why We Should Have Babies at 20”). Older
parenthood does not pose a threat too severe, and I know this due to personal
experience. My mom had me at the age of 40, and she had a very healthy
pregnancy along with a very healthy delivery. I am also healthy. I know many
women who became mothers when they passed 30, including my brother’s wife, who
gave birth to my nephew at the age of 32, and he is also very healthy. Pacey
also hypothesizes that couples will want to become parents at a very late age
in the near future, stating “there will come a point, however, at which the
average age couples start to try to become parents will be incompatible with
their reproductive biology” (“Why We Should Have Babies at 20”). I disagree
with this strongly because I am seeing a shift in when couples try becoming
parents, but I don’t see this reaching an extreme at all. I believe that
couples try to live their lives as a couple and grow independently without the
stress of raising a child. This is another debate. Raising a child at a very
young age, I believe, damages the child’s future because of the lack of wisdom
from the parent(s). Of course this is specific and different for every person
regarding their experiences, but overall, a parent should have a clear and
delineated idea of how to be a parent and how to raise a child well in a
society as dysfunctional as today’s.
Populating
the world is one of the main aspects of being human. Producing the next
generations is seen as a duty as well as a gift. Given that humans have a
certain time span, it is reasonable as to why we should become parents at a
rather early age. Being a parent before your mid-twenties has its benefits.
Firstly, being a young parent shortens the age gap between the child and the
parent, and this aids the family’s bond and understanding greatly. I know this
because my mother and I are 40 years apart, and I feel closer to my sister, who
is ten years older, than I do with my mother, because of the generation gap in
terms of thinking and acting. This bond is essential. Also, having a child
early into a marriage is also beneficial for the parents’ bond. I know couples that
couldn’t get along before their children were born, and are now content.
Biologically speaking, it is also healthier to have children earlier. Pacey
states that “Sperm does become less healthy as men age” (“Why We Should Have
Babies at 20”), and although men could continue to father children, it is preferable
to do so when the sperm is healthiest. As for women, Pacey also says that “by
the age of 35 her fertility starts to decline” (“Why We Should Have Babies at
20”), to the degree where women in their early 40’s do not get approved by IVF
doctors. Thus, it is healthier to become parents at a younger age, and it is
beneficial for the child in terms of the bond as well.
Works Cited:
Pacey, Professor Allan. "Why We
Should Be Having Babies at 20." The Telegraph. N.p., 20 Oct. 2015.
Web. 21 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/11943433/Why-we-should-be-having-babies-at-20.html>.
moodle
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