Spring Break
Column: Get real Octomom
James Stewart/Columnist
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: Opinions
I love the name "Octomom." It makes me chuckle as I sit at my desk, sipping coffee, idly browsing through news headlines online and half-heartedly listening to Robin Meade in the background. It's early morning, and I'm not yet ready to panic about how higher-education funding has been slashed, how foreclosures are still on the rise, how the country is in a recession (no one, it seems, took my advice last time. Maybe I should e-mail Obama) and everything else that's gloriously depressing in the news today. I see a comment on one of the stories I'm looking at with the term "Octomom," and I just have to read the article.
The article is about the woman in California, Nadya Suleman, who gave birth to octuplets in late January. Suleman, a single mother living with her parents, after giving birth to her octuplets, thanks to in vitro fertilization, is now in possession of 14 darling young ones. She is not, however, employed. As of this writing, Ms. Suleman is receiving state aid in the form of food stamps, as well as receiving disability pay from her previous job, at which she injured her back. Well, the story keeps getting better, since now it's reached the media's attention that the Suleman family is more than 10 months late - resulting in $23,225 in money owed - on their mortgage payment and may lose their home at auction in May.
I'm not the biggest fan of kids. I'm just throwing that out there. However, there comes a time when one, even a mother, must step back and judge a situation objectively. Since she seems not to have the capacity to do that - having 14 children, I'm sure, hinders one's ability to evaluate a situation, what with all the screaming, clawing, crying and general chaos. I, being the altruist I am, have decided to help her.
Ms. Suleman, you are a single mother without a job, collecting disability pay and food stamps, attempting to raise 14 children, eight of which are newborn. One of your children has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Two others have autism in varying degrees. Your family is more than 10 months and $20,000 behind on their mortgage payments. You, by your own admission in an interview with Ann Curry, plan on raising your children with the help of friends, family and your church. That's lovely, but this is not good. I'm not one of those people who salivates over an opportunity to bash a single mother. My mother was a single mother, and she did the best job she could. But she had two children, not 14. There comes a point where one must realize one is in over his or her head. It is at this point that hard decisions have to be made and, if you, Ms. Suleman, are not capable of making those decisions, perhaps the California Department of Children and Family Services can make them for you.
James Stewart is a junior English major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
The article is about the woman in California, Nadya Suleman, who gave birth to octuplets in late January. Suleman, a single mother living with her parents, after giving birth to her octuplets, thanks to in vitro fertilization, is now in possession of 14 darling young ones. She is not, however, employed. As of this writing, Ms. Suleman is receiving state aid in the form of food stamps, as well as receiving disability pay from her previous job, at which she injured her back. Well, the story keeps getting better, since now it's reached the media's attention that the Suleman family is more than 10 months late - resulting in $23,225 in money owed - on their mortgage payment and may lose their home at auction in May.
I'm not the biggest fan of kids. I'm just throwing that out there. However, there comes a time when one, even a mother, must step back and judge a situation objectively. Since she seems not to have the capacity to do that - having 14 children, I'm sure, hinders one's ability to evaluate a situation, what with all the screaming, clawing, crying and general chaos. I, being the altruist I am, have decided to help her.
Ms. Suleman, you are a single mother without a job, collecting disability pay and food stamps, attempting to raise 14 children, eight of which are newborn. One of your children has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Two others have autism in varying degrees. Your family is more than 10 months and $20,000 behind on their mortgage payments. You, by your own admission in an interview with Ann Curry, plan on raising your children with the help of friends, family and your church. That's lovely, but this is not good. I'm not one of those people who salivates over an opportunity to bash a single mother. My mother was a single mother, and she did the best job she could. But she had two children, not 14. There comes a point where one must realize one is in over his or her head. It is at this point that hard decisions have to be made and, if you, Ms. Suleman, are not capable of making those decisions, perhaps the California Department of Children and Family Services can make them for you.
James Stewart is a junior English major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 10
Smokey
Roger Castonguay
posted 3/04/09 @ 12:19 PM CST
Great article by James Stewart! He and I think alike. Where is the moral responsibility for this woman who decides to have 14 kids, all the while struggling with her delinquent mortgage and whatever she can get off state aid? And, speaking of state aid, that's one of the reasons that's got us to where we are today in the economic plight of the nation. (Continued…)
Ann Leight
posted 4/30/09 @ 6:14 PM CST
I respect what Roger L. Castonguay says above. It does not mean I accept his opinion about Ms. Suleman. "...that's one of the reasons that's got us to where we are today in the economic plight of the nation". (Continued…)
Anahi Lew
posted 5/02/09 @ 10:26 AM CST
I come to Nadya Suleman's defense, praising her for having FOURTEEN children. This mother already got a little heat with her first six kids. At present Nadya is facing unfair criticism with a sweet smile. (Continued…)
Student Leader
posted 5/02/09 @ 11:25 PM CST
If there ever was a slippery slope to walk on, this would definitely qualify. On one side, this woman has a so called right to have as many children as her heart desires. (Continued…)
Anahi Lew
posted 5/03/09 @ 12:41 PM CST
Hi, there! Let us stop abusing Nadya. If we mean to make her life miserable...we are doing a good job. In such a case, her fourteen children will not receive any loving care or maternal attention. (Continued…)
Che
posted 5/05/09 @ 2:44 PM CST
It looks like we alredy agreed about Ms. Suleman who was blessed with fourteen children. Mother's Day is around the corner. It the best thing that might happen to single parents. (Continued…)
Grad Student
posted 5/06/09 @ 7:06 AM CST
I cannot believe there are actually people in the world that agree with the choices she made!
B.U.
posted 5/06/09 @ 5:02 PM CST
Hi! Only our LORD is Justice. As mothers, we might do everything for our children's sake. This person is not breaking the Law, is she? We do not need to be so intolerant, mean, hurtful or envious. (Continued…)
Bliss
posted 5/08/09 @ 2:03 PM CST
It looks like Ms. Suleman finally reached Justice. We are not bleeding or jumping full of wrath. Demons only exist in our heads. Good Luck and Happy Mother's Day!
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