{"id":5631,"date":"2023-07-28T18:02:24","date_gmt":"2023-07-28T18:02:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailydad.com\/?p=5631"},"modified":"2023-07-28T18:02:26","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T18:02:26","slug":"its-this-intention-this-choice-that-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailydad.com\/its-this-intention-this-choice-that-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s This Intention, This Choice That Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are a lot of kids out there. There are fewer parents. Not just because most families have more than one child, but because unfortunately, tragically, not everyone who has a kid decides to be a parent<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a recent podcast, Richard Reeves (who wrote the fascinating book Of Boys and Men<\/a><\/em>) talked about the study that found that adopted children often do as well or even better than kids who are raised by their biological families. His point was not just that people who adopt are angels, but he was also making the same point we\u2019ve made here many times (and built The Daily Dad<\/a><\/em> book around): it\u2019s the decision, the choice to raise a child<\/a><\/em> that is everything. Whether you\u2019re choosing to do that with a kid that is biologically yours or a bonus kid from a spouse\u2019s previous marriage or one that you and your partner have adopted, it doesn\u2019t matter\u2013what matters is that you decide to become a parent<\/a>. Legal status, the shared DNA? No, what matters is the choice to assume the responsibility, to step up, to identify with\/as, and to give everything you have to this new job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, tragically, too few people decide to do this. Worse, too many people who decide not to do this\u2026decide to have kids. We don\u2019t control that<\/a>, all we control is that every day\u2013whatever our circumstances and past happens to be\u2013that we choose to be the exception, that we choose to do something beyond having kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have to choose to be parents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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