Retriever sends along the most interesting stuff, and I don't always remember to politely give her credit. This one is about a rare genetic condition that a sperm donor has passed along to 5 of 43 children he has "fathered" - and I use the term loosely.
Caveat emptor, as in all else. Emphasising some characteristics, one could list me as an A-1 possible donor, whose genetics one would love to pass on to future generations. Looked at from another perspective, one could list me as a "Red Flag - Approach With Caution" donor. How my children have turned out would tilt the balance in favor of the former, and yet...
I am not sure why people are going in this direction to begin with. It seems like an inauspicious start for a child, to have a donor father. It would make me feel as if I were a bit of software. Note that I say this as one whose father was out of the picture from age six on.
The father's position is pretty weird too. It isn't like an adoption, where you are bringing in someone new (you can speak better to that than I), but the newcomer is partly family and partly outsider and a permanent reminder that you weren't adequate.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how stable marriages with a sperm donor are relative to those that adopt or never have children. (Hard to study)
BTW, will Retriever ever be coming back online?
ReplyDeletejames, I suspect not. Her family does not support her in the task, feeling that she reveals too much about them, and she does not wish to offend.
ReplyDeleteI see their point, as blogging is of course a public forum, where millions of people could theoretically see what is written. But as a practical reality, it is hard to see how it is that intense. I tell stories about my family, but am usually quite conscious how I word it. Not that they would approve of all my editorial decisions, but there is at least some nod to them - particularly as a core of my readership I know in livespace as well.
I understand. I leave out almost all family stories. Do I want a family member's diagnosis or silly saying on the net for an employer to uncover a few years from now? Nah.
ReplyDeleteI too leave out most personal or family stuff when I post.
ReplyDelete