If something happened to Gillian, I'd rip the world down to save her, even if she spat in my face when I did. That's what parenthood means.

I know how sobering and exhausting parenthood is. But the reality is that our children's future depends on us as parents. Because we know that the first years truly last forever.

“Planned Parenthood will fight these attacks in courts, in the state houses, at the ballot boxes to ensure that women with their doctors and families continue to be able to make personal health care decisions without government interference.”

Someday, somehow, the leadership of Planned Parenthood will have to answer for their callous disregard of the sanctity of human life. In the meantime, I am relieved that the Bryan abortion facility has gone out of business.

Parenthood always comes as a shock. Postpartum blues? Postpartum panic is more like it. We set out to have a baby what we get is a total take-over of our lives.

Had I catalogued the downsides of parenthood, "son might turn out to be a killer" would never have turned up on the list. Rather, it might have looked something like this:1. H

If you are financially affluent, think of adopting a kid and raise him or her right next to your biological offspring. And let your love become the proof of your parenthood, instead of your DNA.

The author says this socially respectable option NOT to parent has actually made parenthood more stressful. The knowledge that parents have chosen that role allows for unrealistic buildup of expectations and unavoidable second-guessing.

Parenthood is harder than conventional work, the author suggests, because our jobs develop a somewhat predictable flow and offer relatively short-term feedback. This leads to internal comparisons to the improvisational nature of parenting

“I'm not here to suggest the child's mother made no mistakes. I'm here to suggest we can always second-guess parenthood. At times, parents should be second-guessed. Under these circumstances, I cry foul.”