Huh. When did my children get so old?

I've been thinking about this piece of news lately. Aside from the fact that the Bush Administration appears bent on leaving the country in smoking ruins, there's a lot here to think about. Sneaky administrative end runs, for one thing. Also, my fear that Dutch will grow up in a world controlled by people who think that she is important only for baby-making.

Having had a kid makes me even more fiercely pro-choice. Raising a kid is a pain in the ass. More than once, particularly in the early days of Dutch's life, holding my screaming, apparently-eternally-opposed-to-sleep infant, at the end of my emotional and physical tether, I have marvelled over the fact that MORE people don't abuse their children. Nobody who doesn't want to parent should be forced to parent. And yes, you can make a woman go through pregnancy and then give up her child for adoption, but wow - that is a herculean task. Pregnancy is like a crazy extreme sporting event that goes on for nine months, and the accompanying hormonal weirdness makes it pretty hard to make good decisions.

And of course, why is is so very very very very very important to ensure that every sacred sperm gets a chance to invest in a baby, but not at all important to ensure that every baby gets good prenatal care, healthcare, education, childcare, etc.?

Anyway, I'm pissed off - I apologize for all my ranting lately, but it seems to be that kind of month.

In the good news, Dutch had her first of ten swim lessons today (at an outdoor pool, on the first cold day in weeks, with thunder and lightning storms threatening), and she had a great time. She announced before the class that she was NOT going to put her face in the water, and she did not want to talk to people she did not know, but as soon as she was turned over to Shawn, the cheeriest, clowniest swim-teacher in Portland, she was putty in his hands. She blew bubbles, she kicked, she sang songs, she played "motorboat," she fetched rings from the bottom of the shallow end (forcing her to put her face in the water), and he switched activities so frequently the kids never lost interest. Their reward for doing something challenging, like putting their faces in the water, was that they got to high-five Shawn, to which he responded, every time, by theatrically falling backward in the water and crying out "you knocked me down!". It was like watching an efficient dolphin-training session. I was very impressed. Apparently swim classes have changed since my youth. I sometimes forget how much distraction and entertainment can accomplish in getting kids to do things. Note to self.