By His Grace

I just had a girl ask me if I had any kids and I hesitated when I answered, "No, I don't."

Let me back up. I am at work right now and there was a seventeen year old girl who was sent to my office by another office to help with little tasks. This girl is at my work place doing some type of community service (I don't know if it's for delinquency or for credit for her GED or what) and she came to my office for about 30 minutes to see if I needed help with anything. After she finished the small task I had her help me with she sat down and started talking. She asked me questions about my family and told me about her family and her family situation. This young girl was very open but then she innocently asked me the dreaded question, "Do you have any kids?" I politely answered, after a pause of hesitation, "No, I don't." but then went on to explain how much I love kids and babies and think they are such a joy.

To be honest, I feel guiltly whenever I tell someone that I do not have any children. What I really want to say sometimes (not to this girl, though...she was so innocent and sweet in her asking) is, "Not on earth, I just have one in heaven." That would be a little inappropriate, I guess, but sometimes I am tempted to just say that. I think the reason I am tempted to say that is because I feel like by saying the appropriate answer of "No", I am not admitting what happened. I know in reality people - whether it's friends, family or strangers - are not wired to hear this kind of response. That would involve way too much conversation and our society has become one that doesn't really know what true conversation is. And no, I am not counting email and computerized messaging (or even text messaging) as true conversation. I am talking about face-to-face interaction and socialization.

Oh well.

No, I don't have any kids.