Family Matters

Only 1% of abortions occur because of rape, only 6% occur because there is a health risk to the mother or the baby. 93% of abortions take place for social reasons.

How do you feel about abortions?

I have been asked many times about the ideal family size. It is funny, but the answers to this question change every couple of years. World statistics show that population growth is slowing down and that the desirable family size at the moment stands at 2.1 kids (2 kids and an arm…). In Iceland, Guatemala and Taiwan, people prefer to have bigger families, with an average of 3 kids per family.

Family Matters says: your attitude can improve them even more.

In psychological studies, the age gap between siblings is very important and is used to explain many behaviours and relationships (can you imagine yourself lying on the shrink’s sofa and complaining about your brother who came into your life too early and took all the attention away from you?).

In a research published by the Journal of Family Psychology, Dr. Laurie Kramer, professor of applied family studies at the University of Illinois, followed 28 sibling pairs from the age of 4 to adolescence and found that “a child’s socialization with friends before the arrival of a sibling can predict a more positive relationship between the siblings”.

I do not think there is such a thing as the “right age gap”. I believe that each family has its own “right gap”. There are two theories on this matter:

1. Have kids close together so they can grow together and be as close as possible socially. There is also a bit of “and let’s get the kids thing over with as quickly as we can and get on with our life” in this approach.

2. Have your children spaced out to allow them to be individuals and give yourself enough time to dedicate to each one of them.