Men seem to like them very much
Writing by treason on Friday, 30 of June , 2006 at 12:17 pm
“…According to a recent Gallup poll, fully 70 percent of childless women over the age of forty regret that they have had no children. Such a statistic is reason for great sadness, but perhaps also modest hope.”
– Eric Cohen, “Why Have Children?” in Commentary, June 2006
The theory portion of my class ended yesterday and clinicals will be starting soon. Class field trips to local hospitals have been valuable; some students have already decided that there are areas within the hospital setting they feel strongly about working in. We had a relatively small class and there were only three male students. One knows he wants to work in Pediatrics. He just admitted the other day that he would really like his wife to have another baby. Another student spent a day in the Mother-Baby unit in a hospital and he just knew that this is where he wants to be.
“I’m a real left-brain kinda guy. I’m military. I’m an engineer. I don’t get moved. But the day I was in there with all those babies…I tell you, I was moved.”
The third male student had a similar experience. An eleven year-old girl was admitted to the unit he was assigned.
“She had no heartbeat when she got there. She was dead. But an hour later she was walking out the door.”
“Resurrected,” I said. “That’s one hell of a story for ‘what-I-did-on-my-summer-vacation.’ How many kids can say they died and came back?”
“Man, I don’t know, but I got goosebumps. I still have goosebumps.”
This student has decided to look for work in an emergency room. I’m looking at areas like Cardiology, Oncology, or ICU. There’s a wonderful children’s hospital here and a new one is opening next year. I have a feeling these guys will be considering applying there. In fact, the student who spent a day in the Mother-Baby unit has already asked if the local Women’s Hospital hires male employees.
My tastes run more towards the geriatric. Older patients, patients whose body parts are wearing out. I’m not sure why. I do remember when I was younger, kids would flock around puppies and kittens, but I preferred a quiet corner with the old dog or cat, stroking their fur, rubbing them in those spots they couldn’t reach, and holding them close.
I’ve never mourned the end of puppyhood; I was always grateful that the difficult phase was over. I like puppies, but I love dogs. It might explain why I prefer the larger, more “serious” breeds. I like mature dogs with common sense.
When I visit my mother in assisted living I find myself conversing with many of the residents there and I enjoy listening to their stories. People who have lived through the Great Depression and World War II, and remember every detail about that Edsel they bought are interesting to talk to. They listened to Glenn Miller and actually saw his band when they came to town.
I remember when I was a kid I’d sneak off to Crazy Betty’s apartment and help her feed the pigeons. Maybe it was because I was so shy, so quiet, that I just preferred to listen. I’m still content to listen.
But not to children. Once in awhile there’s one - like the little girl who lives across the cul-de-sac - who’s sharp and well-behaved. I don’t mind her because a person can have a conversation with a child like that. She’s like a fifty year-old in a smaller package.
The Gallup results Mr. Cohen cites are interesting. Some might say that women like me have dogs because they’re child substitutes. No, I don’t have children and I have dogs instead precisely because dogs are dogs. I like dogs and I have always liked dogs. I’ve never been fond of children.
Guess that puts me in the thirty percent.
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