Decisions, Decisions

Amusing Musings 
with Kim Jackson

"There was an old lady who lived in a shoe. She had so many children she didn't know what to do." Funny how you never really put a lot of thought into nursery rhymes. You only cared that they were funny and that they rhymed. Cat, hat. Spratt, fat. Little did you know that they were preparing you for life. Think about it...if you lived your life like Jack Spratt, you would be lean.

But, I came across a reference of Mother Goose's big book of nursery rhymes and thought about that lady, her many children, and that shoe. Of course, it put a nugget in my brain. Then the nugget became a full fledged chunk when I had a conversation with a friend. It would seem that the man that she was involved with wanted to get married. She admitted that she loved him, but it was his fatherly past that gave her pause. I'll wait while you take a seat, get a cigarette, fix a drink, or all three...you're gonna need it. Okay...ready? You see, this man dotes on her. He is very loving and attentive...just what we ladies like. He is also friendly...but it would seem a little too much. This man has at least 14 children. That's right 14...AT LEAST. She said that he began having them at an early age (15). Now, I have to say...I was floored to say the least and I needed to know more. A man and woman can have 14 children...look at that show about the couple with 18. I can even see if there were a couple sets of twins or triplets. But, no...multiple children with multiple women. (WHOA! FLAG ON THE PLAY!!!) And that, she said, is what gave her pause.

I gotta tell you...I 'bout lost my mind with one...how in the world did these women do it? When bringing children into the world, you have to make considerations and decisions. No, scratch that...BEFORE you bring A child into the world. Even when I slyly posed a question to my 'fellas' about considering a relationship with someone with children...the highest number that they would mention is two. That's it. Two...because they may want one or more of their own...after marriage, of course. Then, there's the age of the children to consider...because you know those runts have their phases. Terrible twos, MINE!, I don't want to go to school, no I didn't eat the cookies (with chocolate on their face and hands), "This an automated call from the ____ County School System...your child was not present in school today"...when you know you dropped their skipping behind off...do, I need to go on?

So, how does this happen? How is it that this number of children didn't give the other mothers pause? It's funny...a lot of women are quick to point the finger and say it loud, "Men are dogs." But, when you're readily giving up the puppy treats without regard to what yard he ran away from ...well...welcome to the kennel. (I didn't want to use the 'get up with fleas' analogy...I don't need ya'll writing me telling me that your baby is not a flea...I already know that). If some of us adhered to the philosophy of some of my 'fellas' and look into the possibility of what could be....that whole "Men are dogs" thing might become extinct. Because once we make the decision to put a stop to foolishness such as this, then we force them 'dogs' to adapt and ultimately change. Now, as for the ladies that are twisting their lips and saying to themselves, "What the heck does she know?" Well, I know that my drama plate is empty...'nough said. And as for the men that are like, "About time somebody on our side!" Not really, don't get it twisted. One thing the 'fellas' agreed on? Just because they made the decision to not pursue a committed relationship...it didn't mean that they didn't do 'other' things.

As for my friend? She told him that she couldn't continue the relationship knowing that they both wanted different things. Oddly enough...that's when his true persona emerged. He promptly told her that he was still seeing his kid's momma anyway and that he was going to make it work with her. Which of course, turned into some coarse language and name calling.

But, you know me...I had to ask..."Heck, which one?!"