Thoughts on PBS YouTube Series: Should We Kid or Not? Episode 1
Episode 1 is titled Family Pressure vs. Family Support: What’s It Like to Be Pressured to Have Kids? It features two women in their 30’s. One is Lizbeth (31); she is married and comes from a Mexican / Catholic family. She and her husband are on-the-fence in regards to having kids. The other is Ann Marie (34); she is a single mom from a Jamaican / Baptist family with a 4 y/o and wants more kids.
This episode can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJjFPRpB-uM&list=PLgmdcFUtPtXXdA8xwxNMQrfHv1LYV0UMs&index=2&t=0s
What are your thoughts on this episode? Let us know in the comments – consider this is a SPOILER ALERT for those who have not seen the video.
This is a great series to watch between you current binge sessions. Independent Lens is produced by PBS and has put out a series of short Q&A episodes addressing the decision to have kids. The videos are relatively short (under 9 minutes) so there isn’t a heavy time investment.
It feels balanced as the questions come from everyday people and are one-to-one conversations (unless a couple is involved). It is refreshing to see the candor and understanding on both sides of the topic/situation.
Check out our thoughts on the the other episodes in this series: Ep. 2, Ep. 3, Ep. 4, Ep. 5
More Childfree Family Blogs & News can be found HERE.
Takeaways: Since Lizbeth and her husband are on the fence, her questions seem a little more probing and she was very candid with her responses. Ann Marie started getting a little “Salesy”. Saying that Lizbeth’s body “might change for the better” and “enhance certain parts” – it isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. Her comment that they “are over thinking it” is the cherry on top. The decision of whether or not to have a child is a life shaping experience (whichever way someone chooses). Lizbeth made a great statement that growing up she felt like having kids was just “the next thing”. Further stating that she would like “a more neutral environment in which we could decide for ourselves” is spot on. Kids are pressured too early by society that there is a set path to follow and they should no deviate.