I have been on medical leave for the past five days because I removed my wisdom teeth on Monday. Going under GA was as fun as expected, though the night before that I had the usual GA nightmare: you know the one where you are apparently unconscious but actually you are hearing, feeling, seeing everything, and you try to stop the scalpel but you can’t move, because, as before mentioned, you are out cold to the rest of the world. So there you are, silently screaming, hopelessly struggling, all in futility.
I stepped out into civilisation today. Went for a hair spa treatment. I figured that was allowed coz one really doesn’t do much at the spa, except, sit. I decided to forego the usual movie which helps time pass. So I was plied with three Australian magazines, along the lines of Women’s Day. And after reading them, it occurred to me that children are the most popular accessories of today’s stars, the must-have item in every get-up, don’t leave home without them! Not only do they look good (with some hapless exceptions), they also come in handy. I mean, look at Brangelina and their brood. Apparently Ange’s new pregnancy has saved the famous pair from an imminent split and rekindled their sex life, given that Brad has a fetish for the pregnant form. And Mel Gibson’s long-suffering wife is finally throwing in the towel and of course the mags have to mention their seven children – collateral damage, and not to mention joint property in any divorce, and in this particular case, to bring home Mel’s strong Catholic faith – no contraception, hence the seven kids – which then highlights the irony of his adulterous affairs and current divorce. And then of course there is Katie Holmes. Does anyone even remember her before-Suri? And now there is Nicole Kidman and Sunday Rose, who, does anyone even realise, is unfortunate to resemble her father so? Then there is the other Nicole, who is pregnant yet again, and who, before giving birth to her first child with Good Charlotte’s whazisface, was best known for being Paris Hilton’s anorexic best friend. And guess what? Paris Hilton is not in the news. Obviously. She has no child, and neither is she pregnant. That makes her yesterday’s news. To have a future, or even a present, it seems, one must have a child. Other people in the news: Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin throwing a party for their son, Kate Hudson rushing to some party with the man of her life – her son. And there was David Beckham romping with his three sons, and the Travoltas who are mourning the death of a son.
It seemed the only childless celebrity who was newsworthy was Jennifer Aniston. Poor, sad, childless Aniston was in the news because of yet another failed relationship. She was noted for being extra flirtatious with all the men on the set of her latest film, and planning for a vacation to Europe to find a rich businessman to be the new love in her life, as she has apparently grown tired of actors, singers and models.
I wonder why celebrities can’t seem to get enough of parenthood. I wonder why is it that thousands of women want to emulate these celebrities in every way, but draw the line when it comes to motherhood. According to these celebrities, motherhood is the best thing that has happened to them, not the Birkin bag, or the Manolos, or their multi-million mansions, or their fleet of cars and private jets, nor botox or silicon implants. Why do we not, like Angelina Jolie, aspire to have seven children and more? Personally, I get tired just imagining myself being followed around by seven little chicks everywhere I go.
Are we taking many steps backwards when 50-somethings like Sharon Stone and Madonna seem to be driven by this biological, maternal instinct and adopting kids whom they may never watch grow up? Successful, rich men don’t do that. Some keep pigs as pets, but they don’t go out and adopt child after child after child, as if of insatiable appetite, trying to quench an unquenchable thirst. Is there something lacking in a successful woman which can only be filled by a child?
And finally, are they being noble doing their bit for society by adopting? Or are they just collecting children since they can have everything, why not another human being?
An Ordinary Life 