sterilized wrath

I was talking to my mother a couple of days ago, and just mentioned that one of my friends is getting married very soon. She also mentioned that his mother told her that she expected that they would try to have a baby right away.

And that seriously pissed me off. Just in theory, though.

Because in practice, I am absolutely thrilled for them and the possibilities.

But back to why I am hacked. I am quite aware of the slippery slope I'm peering down.

See, he has two beautiful babies with his first wife. Granted, both babies were a bit of a surprise. And, granted, lovely ex-wife might have said something like she wished she'd never had children with him. Wench. After surprise baby number two, they, together, decided that they did not want to have any more children. They, together, decided that their family was complete, And, they, together, decided that SHE would have a tubal ligation to prevent further surprise babies.

HE wasn't the one who took his baby making options off the shelf even though he was part of the decision about being done. And she was very young.

So now. New bride. New life. Voila babies.

There is just something in this that seems inequitable. I know that sterilization procedures aren't permanent, and I don't know if she ever regrets having the tubal ligation, but it just feels wrong that he has no consequences from backing out on his decision not to have more children.

There is just something about this that absolutely infuriates me when this happens with the second/third/fourth trophy wife. Just because men can get their partner pregnant when they are in their seventies, it does not make them a father.

I know that I haven't fully articulated why I reacted so strongly. But I did. And I still do. I wish I understood why.