I have a say because I am the middle child of my blessed Mother who gave birth to twelve children. I am the middle child because my oldest brother died of SIDS at two months and I was never fortunate enough to meet him.
My story will be horrifying to liberals who believe that it is somebody else's responsibility to raise children when you are a poor woman who has 11 mouths to feed. We were not raised to depend upon anyone but each other, the older kids watched us when we were babies and my Mother would not accept any help from government or from the Catholic Church, in my youth the Church wanted a $2,000 investment for an annulment and my Mother said that she would pay as soon as one of us became a doctor or a lawyer and she never took Communion again. My Mother worked two jobs for 14 years to feed and clothe us and would not even discuss with the older kids any form of help from anyone. This is our family and we will get by with hard work and attention to our lessons and our Church. Our family was and still is a tight band of proto-typical Irish Roman Catholics who will argue and fuss amongst ourselves but any outward try at dividing us will make you wish you hadn't. We stand strong, together and unified against any outside influence. I learned to chop veggies at 6-7, simmer at ten and by twelve I was the only kid trusted to cook dinner. I would get home from school to a note of what had been defrosted and what I should make of it. Usually there was a recipe but somtimes my Mom just said surprise us with something good so at 45 now I am an excellent cook. I and my most excellent brothers and sisters have a say because our Mom said no to murdering one of us because she wasn't sure how we would be able to afford one more. She was a single parent because she chose husbands poorly but with the olders teaching the youngers we grew up just fine without a father type figure. She never left our Faith because she believed God in our lives was among the most important things she could pass on. I was an altar boy in St. Anthony's in Allston,Ma from around ten until I left for the Navy at 17. When MS took her mobility and she couldn't go to Mass anymore Father Harrington, Father Murphy or Father Calveccio brought Mass to her Sunday afternoons. We grew up just fine, poor but knowing GOD for our Mother wouldn't have it any other way. I'm sure it would've been much more convenient for her to have murdered several of us in her womb and had more to share with the lucky ones, but she didn't see her babies that way. We weren't inconvenient, we were blessings to her bestowed by a loving GOD. I/we have a say because I wore my brother's hand-me-down shoes with three pairs of socks because having me alive was worth more than new shoes for every kid every year. I have a say because I grew up strong and proud of my family and my faith because I lived with a great example of it. I have a say because I completely repudiate the notion that some politician can force me to pay for something I find reprehensible. I have a say because I'm alive today because my Mother 45 years ago figured I was a blessing and not a curse or a disease or inconvenience. I have a say because my Mother had her say 45 years ago. GOD bless her, you and our faith, we all have a say and we should stand together and say NO to this abominable section of the 2,500 page obamastrosity of a healthcare takeover. I have a say because I am, and will continue to be alive because my Mother had a say.
A collection of voices expressing thanks that their parents chose life and are thus able to stand up and say "I have a say!!"
I Have A Say Thanks to My Mom and Dad!!!
Being the oldest of 11, I am so thankful, especially now, for my Mom and Dad saying "yes" to life! Growing up, we never had a ton of money. My Dad was a high school chemistry teacher and my parents decided from the beginning that they wanted to have one of them home with us. My mom gave up her teaching career, and raised me, followed by 10 others! My Mom also taught all 11 of us at home for part of our childhood before we would head off to Nativity Catholic Grade School. My Dad worked long hours, eventually earning other degrees so that he could first become dean, then principal, and finally, when I was a sophomore, he was named Roncalli High School's first president. My Dad and Mom both sacrificed SO MUCH for us.
I remember, even as a young person, getting stared at by people, and I remember the comments they would make. I can still hear a dental receptionist asking my Mom "Are these all yours? You know how children are made right?" followed by a real insidious but ditzy chuckle, followed by a secretarial gum crackle. My Mom and Dad were always tight budget wise, and I'm sure at times ached with a desire to not have to take bags of clothes from other families so that we could have clothes. I'm sure my Mom and Dad had desires to simply go to Nordstrom and buy us and give us all our own new clothes and Gameboys and Reebok Pumps etc. I'm sure they at times really wished they could just get a new car and not have to drive a fifteen passenger van around. I'm sure at times they wanted really badly to just go to a restaurant and sit back and enjoy a big expensive meal instead of having to cut coupons and craft together economic meals on the stove.
But they chose life for us, and they chose sacrifice for themselves.
I often think about that ditzy secretary now when our family gets together almost every weekend for dinner to laugh and hang out. Some of the siblings might be out of town or busy with other obligations, but inevitably, all weekend long, every weekend, our family gets together. Sometimes, when we're out at a restaraunt, I see the couples who are alone with each other. They hardly talk to each other and the loneliness is palpable. A part of me feels bad that we're having so much fun with our 8 tables shoved together, telling stories, laughing good hearty and healthy laughs. Sometimes I wonder if one of the couples sitting in the restaurant quietly and solemnly is that dental secretary - who now has piles of money and can eat wherever she wants, but doesn't have hardly anyone to share it with. My heart breaks for the people who are alone, especially the ones who are alone because, when they could have been having children, they instead bought into the contraception lie and lived for themselves only.
I have a say today, and so do my ten younger brothers and sisters, because my parents chose life. Mom and Dad - thanks a million!!!
I remember, even as a young person, getting stared at by people, and I remember the comments they would make. I can still hear a dental receptionist asking my Mom "Are these all yours? You know how children are made right?" followed by a real insidious but ditzy chuckle, followed by a secretarial gum crackle. My Mom and Dad were always tight budget wise, and I'm sure at times ached with a desire to not have to take bags of clothes from other families so that we could have clothes. I'm sure my Mom and Dad had desires to simply go to Nordstrom and buy us and give us all our own new clothes and Gameboys and Reebok Pumps etc. I'm sure they at times really wished they could just get a new car and not have to drive a fifteen passenger van around. I'm sure at times they wanted really badly to just go to a restaurant and sit back and enjoy a big expensive meal instead of having to cut coupons and craft together economic meals on the stove.
But they chose life for us, and they chose sacrifice for themselves.
I often think about that ditzy secretary now when our family gets together almost every weekend for dinner to laugh and hang out. Some of the siblings might be out of town or busy with other obligations, but inevitably, all weekend long, every weekend, our family gets together. Sometimes, when we're out at a restaraunt, I see the couples who are alone with each other. They hardly talk to each other and the loneliness is palpable. A part of me feels bad that we're having so much fun with our 8 tables shoved together, telling stories, laughing good hearty and healthy laughs. Sometimes I wonder if one of the couples sitting in the restaurant quietly and solemnly is that dental secretary - who now has piles of money and can eat wherever she wants, but doesn't have hardly anyone to share it with. My heart breaks for the people who are alone, especially the ones who are alone because, when they could have been having children, they instead bought into the contraception lie and lived for themselves only.
I have a say today, and so do my ten younger brothers and sisters, because my parents chose life. Mom and Dad - thanks a million!!!
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