While some families have more children due to religious beliefs or lack of self control, (this is not the case for us) there are those of us who have larger families because we can both afford and educate our children well. Case in point, our two older children born during a time when I had no secondary education and very little financial resources. That meant we had to be creative and supplement their public education through experience and opportunities. They are now 15 and 13. They are college bound, have been in the Gifted and Talented Program. Our 15 year old daughter is in honors courses and volunteers at a science based organization. Our 13 year old son takes math classes at the high school (two levels above his peers), and does very well academically. Both are involved in sports. They are well rounded, attend rock concerts with us, and are better adjusted than many of their peers. Then comes the 3 year old who is exceptionally intelligent, benefitting from her older siblings and parents. I taught my children by example that higher education is important by completing my degree, and also taught them that they will not get a free ride, they will have to work hard for their education. As my husband and I settle into our carrers we find that we are better able to provide for our children. Our fourth child is due in February. We are similarly appalled at families who have children for the sake of having them like trophies and do not care for them as they deserve to be cared for. Some people are ill equipped, bad tempered or irresponsible and should not have even one child. It is not always about the number of children but the capacity of the parent(s) to provide for their child. We are the cool and forward thinking parents, the antithesis to the Duggars. Our children are not interchangeable, they are individuals and we are very very lucky.