Question

What is your idea about following paragraphs?

There are many young people looking to start families. Whenever I log onto Facebook or Instagram, I see pictures being shared/posted of engagements and gender reveal parties. Sometimes I think about it and I get jealous, because I would like to start a family, but I am too consumed in my studies and work. Starting a family now would be selfish of me because I won't be able to devote my full attention and time to my family. Although, most of the time I am excited for these young couples, because they're living the American dream. Buying homes, getting married and starting families is a beautiful thing to experience. However, the questions posed are very thought provoking. Whenever I think about someone being pregnant, I generally think of a young person; maybe mid-twenties or early thirties, but never an age beyond that. In my honest opinion, I do not think there is an age in which we are too old to become a parent. I understand the main point of this discussion is based on conceiving a child, but that is not the only way to become a parent, in my opinion. There are plenty of people who can't have children who chooses to adopt or foster, and they are still great parents and capable of creating a family; especially older people, given their additional life experiences. My grandma always said, "Having a kid doesn't make you a mother. You've got to love and nurture your child and raise them in a supportive family, that’s what truly makes you a mother." I think that's an important point to make, considering that a parent from any age group is capable of creating a loving and supportive family. When I think of a family, I think about love and togetherness. According to the text, people of all ages turn to family members for various things, including pleasurable interactions (Berk, 2018, p. 57), and the children learn skills and values of their culture within their family (Berk, 2018, p. 57). A parent within an older age group can provide that as well. Having a child at an older age may be frowned upon by many, but it is still done in many parts of the world, despite there being many health risks associated with it. I believe that it is medically ethical for fertility doctors to assist post-menopausal women in becoming pregnant. I believe that if it wasn't medically ethical, it would be completely illegal, and not currently being debated by experts (Berk, 2018, p.53). Also, there are some post- menopausal women who have had successful births. However, I think the post- menopausal women should be fully educated on the many risks of conceiving that way compared to natural conception. For example, the older the post-menopausal woman would have a greater chance of health risks to herself and her child (Berk, 2018, p.53). Some of those health risks include pregnancy complications, miscarriage, and major birth defects, and the age of people seeking the treatment (Berk, 2018, p.52). Considering that older age is a health risk, I do believe that laws should be enacted to implement age limits on the use of reproductive technologies. I don't believe people of an older age should be banned from conceiving by means of reproductive technologies, just because it's a health risk, because even younger healthy people have pregnancy related health risks. However, post- menopausal women who want to conceive that way should be required by law to go through highly regulated screening procedures, like they are required to do so in New Zealand, Europe, and Australia (Berk, 2018, p. 53). In conclusion, I believe that people deserve to be happy and should be allowed to create a family at any point in their life beyond age 18, as long as they can fully support their child. Although it may be difficult for an older couple to conceive, they should be allowed to until there are laws in place preventing them to do so. Adoption would be a better alternative compared to reproductive technologies, to protect the post-menopausal mother and potential child form possible health risks, but that’s the beauty of this country. We have choices.

Answer 1