Although I've never watched the show, I was thrilled to read
in my local newspaper that a Staten Island family will be
starring in Sunday's episode of "Nanny 911."
Why? The couple has six children, and they reminded me why I love
Staten Island so much. Born and raised in Manhattan, my original
plan was to raise my children there until I learned that large
families are not particular common or welcome.
Who can forget that infamous essay in the New York Times Magazine
by Manhattanite Amy Richards, who said she aborted two of her
triplets so she wouldn't have to move to Staten Island and shop
at Costco? She was hailed as a heroine by radical feminists who
regarded the culling of unwanted fetuses the wise and proper
thing to do. The respect-life contingent was shocked and
horrified at such heartlessness, but I'd already been clued in to
the anti-multiple-child attitude of Manhattan while I was still
living there.
My first child was born in Lenox Hill Hospital thanks to the
great insurance plan offered by my employer at the time, Air
Canada. For my next child, I was a stay at home mother and could
afford only the sliding scale clinic services at Bellevue
Hospital. My initial visit there was an eye-opener. The European
doctor who examined me asked if I had other children. I answered
that I had a 1-year-old at home. He then frowned and said
sternly, "Don't you know there are children starving in
China?"
I should have replied: "Well, they'll still be starving
whether I have this baby or not." Being young and still
respectful of moronic elders, I kept my mouth shut.
I immediately thought of that doctor while reading Mark Steyn's
excellent new book, "America Alone: The End of the World As
We Know It." Mr. Steyn has been warning about the declining
birth rate of European nations for some time. In a recent essay
for National Review, he cites the possible apocalyptic result of
Russia's enthusiastic abortion advocacy of years past. Mr. Steyn
writes: "Seven out of 10 pregnancies (according to some
surveys) are aborted; in some Muslim communities, the fertility
rate is 10 babies per woman." The Toronto Star, Mr. Steyn
notes, reported that by 2015 Muslims will make up a majority of
Russia's army, which, of course, controls a colossal nuclear
arsenal. To ensure its financial survival, Russia sooner or later
may decide to sell off its nukes to the highest bidder,
regardless of their intent.
Some say Mr. Steyn is an alarmist, a Chicken Little racing around
for no good reason. Seems to me he's more of a handsome male
Cassandra preaching to deaf European ears. Fortunately, he titled
his book "America Alone," because so far we haven't
fallen into that egocentric lifestyle that fails to recognize
that strong family units are necessary for a society's survival.
By the time I was pregnant with my third child, I was getting
nasty looks whenever I walked to First Avenue from my Waterside
apartment with a swollen belly and my two sons in a double
stroller. I'm sure many strangers were under the mistaken
impression that their tax dollars were funding our existence and
resented my obvious fecundity.
How different I felt when we moved to Staten Island. Twin and
triple strollers were a common sight at the mall and in Costco.
Most Island restaurants are geared toward babies and large
families. Playgrounds are abundant, and child-proofed. We have a
huge carousel in Willowbrook Park and springtime sees Silver and
Clove Lake parks teeming with babies and toddlers. Staten Island
is the fastest-growing county in the state because growing
families are finding the welcome mat is out for them.
My children are all adults now, and I'm awaiting my sixth
grandchild. I probably could have used a nanny when mine were all
young and driving me bonkers. From the newspaper article, Staten
Islanders Sean and Siobhan McCaffrey appear to be harried young
parents of twins, triplets, and a 1-year-old. Mrs. McCaffrey
admitted that she was nervous about airing their dirty laundry on
national television. But while chaos may be part and parcel of
the McCaffrey home now, children don't stay young forever.
I wish I could let the McCaffreys know how inspiring their family
is in this day and age when good, loving parents of many children
are considered rare. They are truly blessed, and they are
definitely good for America.