The decision to have children or go childless is a decision all couples must make. One of my close friends, let's call her Maddy, has decided to place the decision in God's hands. Maddy and her husband have chosen to abstain from intercourse on days of peak fertility. Every morning she wakes up and takes her temperature to check her basal body temperature to determine if she is ovulating. It is only a slight change, therefore only certain thermometers can be used (thermometers that read to the hundredth degree). Maddy, and her husband, is Catholic and due to religious beliefs have decided to not use contraceptives.
The both want children, lots of children in fact, but the timing is not right for them. She is just beginning in her career and he is still in graduate school. They have only been married a short period of time. However, if they were to get pregnant tomorrow, they believe it is what God has chosen for them and they will make it work. It takes a lot of commitment for Maddy to wake up every morning and check her temperature. She jokes that on Saturday mornings it is very difficult for her to wake up and take her temperature (you must take it at the same time every day, much like the pill). One Saturday she said she would skip the day and fell back asleep and woke up with the thermometer in her mouth from her husband getting up to take it! It is great for Maddy to have such support from her husband in keeping up with their choice for planned parenthood.
I have another friend, let's call her Grace, does not want to have children at all. She is single, owns her own home and is happy. She wants to get married some day, but does not want to have children. She has made her decision and has never waivered. She will not date a man with children and utilizes birth control and condoms to avoid pregnancy.
No matter how temporary or permanent our decisions for having children or going childless, we are so blessed to have the options to chose.
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