Helen Mirren confronts the final female taboo

[bitchkitty]

74. Still

I believe that not all people who are moms should have had children. I believe it takes a lot of love and patience to raise a child, and all the money in the world won't help if you don't have that. (Please understand I am using the general "you" and not referring to you personally - I am sure your parenting is top notch!)

Some people simply should not reproduce - it's unfair to their children and it's doubly unfair to the world, when unloved, neglected or poorly raised kids are unleashed upon it.

I think that a lot of women, had they been raised to believe that it was perfectly all right to NOT want marriage or children, would have taken a different path in life. Instead they buy into the fairy tale, find a Prince Not-So-Charming, and start popping out kids that they have no idea what to do with. Much to their dismay, their suburban castle is NOT built out of pink marble, but of dirty diapers, macaroni and cheese and Comcast bills.

If I did have daughters, I would put a lot of energy into teaching them how fabulous they are on their own, that their gender is beside the point, and that their education should be their first priority. And that after they have realized their dreams, if they want to share their beautiful life and even bring another life into the wonderful world they have built, then they should do it out of love - not because of society's expectations or some fear of a biological clock stopping.