Do Big Families Set a Bad Example?

Randy Hicks, President of Georgia Family Council
August 5, 2011

“Very bad role models.” That’s what some have labeled one of the world’s most famous married couples.

So what did British soccer star David Beckham and his wife Victoria (the former music star Posh Spice) do? Was it infidelity, divorce or drugs? Was it some far-out political statement?

Here’s the “crime:” the couple, who have been married since 1999, just welcomed another child into their family; a daughter, who joins their three sons and brings the grand total of children in their family to four.

The horror. Can you imagine what would happen if people got the crazy idea to follow their example? You know, going out, getting married and having kids. And not just a few kids, but four!

And therein lays the problem.

Some critics believe the Beckhams are being irresponsible. Apparently it’s not very eco-friendly of them to bring so many human beings into the world. Food and natural resources are getting scarce, they say, and the growth of such a famous family has created an occasion to make their case.

“There’s no point in people trying to reduce their carbon emissions and then increasing them 100 percent by having another child,” said Simon Ross, the head of the UK-based Optimum Population Trust responding to the Beckham family’s new addition. He’s got a big problem with big families and wants government policies to discourage homes with lots of kids. In his view, “one or two children are fine but three or four are just being selfish.”

There are plenty of environmental and population control advocates around the world and here in America who oppose large families as a drain on the world’s resources. Some claim it is “immoral” to have large families – even encouraging high tax rates for parents with more than two children.

But Mr. Ross and those who agree with him have nothing to worry about. Overpopulation is a myth. There’s plenty of food on the planet to feed everyone (if it could be effectively distributed) and birthrates in many places around the world (including Europe where he lives) are actually dropping.

My concern is how we value and view human beings and the potential of every child born into this world. Are children a blessing or a burden? Are they just a drain on resources or a potential resource themselves?

George Mason economist Bryan Caplan wrote, “Human beings do not just consume, they also produce. The world economy is not like a party where everyone splits a birthday cake; it is more like a potluck where everyone brings a dish.”

He’s right. Children are born with an intellect, talents, skills and longings; all with the potential to make things better for themselves and those around them. Just in the last century, we’ve seen what human innovation in technology, farming and medicine can do to improve the lives of people across the world.

If critics of the Beckham family have their way, the youth of today would grow up believing they and their future children are a burdensome drain on precious resources. Instead, they should be encouraged to do good, make life better for others and welcome each new life as a blessing.

Most of us choose to become parents because we want the responsibility to care for and influence someone outside ourselves – to see ourselves reflected in someone else in a way that’s positive and meaningful. As Neil Postman once said, “Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.”

If we as moms and dads take this role seriously and can pass on character and responsibility to our children we’ll all be better off, no matter how big our family is.