Child birth should not serve as a means to an end

There has been a lot of talking about a lady’s recent remark on TV about winning the race at the starting line, highlighting the possibility of enhancing a child’s competitiveness by prearranging his date of conception. According to her, a child whose birthday is calculated to be in the month of January has the edge over all others as admission to kindergarten is usually open only to children born in that month.

Her words, seemingly full of wisdom, are, to me, as damaging to the child’s development as anything that could happen to him. Imagine what a heavy responsibility would be placed on the child’s shoulders even prior to his birth! How unfair it would be for the child to be forced to meet his parents’ expectations before even taking his first breath! Actually, society is to blame for limited kindergarten admissions. Why should a baby pay its cost by being deprived of the freedom of choice of its birthday?

The child is also likely to have everything planned for him throughout his growth. Good parenting involves planning well for the child. But good planning means careful consideration in every way to ensure that the child grows up happily and healthily. It is the child’s well being that parents should direct their attention to. If, on the other hand, the parents care only about attaining their own goal, everything the child does would have to serve a purpose. He might not be allowed to explore and pursue his own interest, lest he should disappoint his parents. How miserable his youth would be! How his character formation would be hindered!

Above all, I find this suggestion an insult to life. It is an act of violation of Natural Law in every sense of the word. Childbirth is the manifestation of the love of the parents and should, therefore, be something as natural as life itself. Some people may argue that birth control also involves the adjustment of the conception date. I admit that this is unnatural to a certain extent, but at least the harm, if any, would not be for the child to bear.

A child’s well being should top his parents’ priority list. Anything that hinders his healthy and joyful growth is to be condemned, far less using him as a means to an end by calculating his conception date.