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Two is Enough

Several months ago, before I was pregnant, I dashed into a health food store with three of our children. (#4 wasn't with us.) In the store, we met a pair of adorable little 4 year old twins. One introduced herself to me and asked, "Are these three children yours?"

I answered, "Yes, and I have another child that isn't here."

"Why do you have so many children?" she asked.

"Because I love children and think they are very special." I could tell her father was listening to our conversation and he was starting to look a little embarrassed at his daughter's boldness.

"I think that nobody needs more than two children," she stated in a matter-of-fact way, looking for all the world like a tiny expert on the subject. "You really don't need so many children. My father says two are enough."

"Oh, but I love children and I'm so glad for each of the children we have. In fact, I hope we have more of them." That stopped her for a little bit. Her father apologized and said, "I don't know what gets into her. Yesterday she told a young woman in the grocery store that she should get married soon and start having babies."

I laughed, "As long as she doesn't have more than two of them!"

These twins were so cute! The outspoken one wanted to know why my little girl didn't say anthing. "She's sort of shy," I said.

"So am I," the little girl said seriously. "I'm very shy!"

We all had a good laugh about our encounter once we were back in the car. My oldest boy thought this little girl was a bit too outspoken and found her comments on family size offensive, but after awhile the whole thing struck him as funny.

The sad part was this: can you imagine being raised by a father who lets you know that "two are enough"? That's the way most children in America are being raised. I'm so thankful that I had a mother who said things like, "I wish you had been a twin!" and "We wanted to have lots of children..."

copyright 1994 by Rebecca Prewett

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