Dr. Stanley Watson

for the

Family Support Network

PROVIDE THE BEST FOR YOUR BABY

EVERY CHILD SHOULD HAVE:

1. The right to be born once he or she is conceived. At least one third of the babies conceived in this nation never see the light of day. They are aborted. A human life begins at conception and should not end until death by accident or natural causes.
2. The right to a warm welcome. He or she should feel that the world is a friendly place and never experience the smoldering anger of not being wanted. In fact, there are no unwanted children. If the birth mother does not want her child there are many childless couples who would nurture and care for it.
3. The right to the love and care of the father and mother who produced it. A boy must learn to identify with his father and relate well to his mother in order to achieve a normal adulthood. On the other hand a girl must learn how to be a woman by identifying with her mother and relating to her father in order to enjoy being a wife and a mother.
4. The right to have basic needs met. This includes food, clothing, and shelter. For the self-esteem of the child such needs should ordinarily be provided by the parents. Material comforts can be modest without damage to the child if the family has pride. Pride is far more important than the social status or the level of income the parents might have. Many of the great leaders of the world grew up in homes below the poverty line
5. The right to a clean environment in which to live. Sanitation is not expensive but a dirty environment produces illnesses and filth can kill.
6. The right to affection provided by hugs, kisses, and friendly conversation. Babies who are denied these are generally unhealthy, depressed, and some even die.
7. The right to mental, social, and emotional growth through play. Playing is the work of children. It is necessary for personal development for children of all ages. (Don't we parents have our grown up toys?)

These things can best be understood and provided by parents who really want children. Primarily the desire for children should be for the sake of the child itself and, secondarily, because a couple in love feels a desire to bring into the world tangible proof of God's blessing upon their union.

A child should always be regarded with respect because it belongs first of all to God, then itself, and thirdly, to its parents. To the old timers of our generation, these were the standards for having and raising children. So the world is different, it will not be better until we learn to observe family values that begin with a decent respect for the first stage of human life.

After talking with a couple of mothers who thought some of the "rights" were really "ideals" I realized that my list was what was normal for the era in which our children came along but are now considered idealistic. At this point I want to make it clear that I have the utmost sympathy for my many friends and acquaintances who are single parents. Virtually all of them did not plan it that way but have been trapped by our current era of irresponsibility in marriages. They would whole-heartedly agree with the principles outlined in this column.

Although these concepts may appear unrealistic and old fashioned, I still hold that they are essential for a healthy society. They certainly came from an era that was kinder, gentler, and considerably healthier than today. I recommend them because, if you can provide them you will have happier, healthier children who will eventually "rise up and call you blessed."

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