No wonder the world is going to hell in a handbasket. Not enough people are doing mothering any more.

Someone at Paul's office spent twenty months planning her wedding, but no time doing any family planning it seems. Now she's pregnant, and already working out how soon she can get back to work after having the baby.

Excuse me? Why is she having a baby then?

This is a commitment, not a part-time hobby. When you choose parenting, it's your job to turn that bundle into a competent, socially-acceptable adult. You have to teach it right from wrong, give it self-respect and self-esteem and turn it into a he or she with morals and ethics. Otherwise you end up with the delinquents who think the world owes them a living and they'll take by force what isn't tossed into their laps.

Mothering is a serious business. It's hard work. Why is it so undervalued?