Zeno's Bar & Grill

An article in The Boston Globe describes the latest parenting trend...ever-bigger families. Apparently, three is the new two and four is the new three.

The disturbing parts of the article? Let’s start with the notion that having large families is somehow a substitute for the frustrated dreams of high-achieving women who quit work to stay home with their families: “After all, managing a bigger family can be a lot like managing an enterprise, with schedules and budgets…”

But even more strange is the idea that, for some, having a large family is a status symbol. “For some people,” says a pediatrician quoted in the article, “having four kids has become the new status symbol, like having a luxury SUV. It says you can afford it…” Zoiks!

If that’s true, it's taking things a bit far on the parenting front!

Obviously, status seeking isn't the only reason that parents have for choosing to have bigger families, and actually the article is fairly balanced in this regard, describing other motivations as well, such as wanting to reproduce (no pun intended) the family structure in which a person grew up.

So, to recap: Trendy diaper bags and stroller, maybe. Deciding on your family size based on keeping up with the Joneses? Just say no.

--Melanie & Kelly