The kids we see on TV

My husband and I have a few television programs (aka guilty pleasures) we watch in our basement after Ben's asleep, mostly the day after they're aired in real time, thanks to Tivo: Top Chef, American Idol, Project Runway, the original CSI, to name a few. When you think of television shows that highlight big family life, programs like the Brady Bunch or Eight is Enough, or the more modern large family reality shows like Kids by the Dozen or John and Kate Plus 8, or even certain episodes of Extreme Home Makeover probably spring to mind, but it was an unsuspecting season of Project Runway that really put my kid counting antenna in action.

A few seasons back on Project Runway, there was a contestant named Laura Bennett. I judged her from the second I saw her slightly protruding pregnant belly under a slim-fitting stylish black dress. She was older, maybe in her early 40s, attractive, seasoned and urban looking, and I assumed she was arriving late to motherhood, having achieved her career goals, married late and then, lo and behold, won a spot on the fashion reality show -- que bad timing! In (non-television) reality, her story was quite the opposite. This would be her (gasp, horrors) sixth child. Although I wouldn't say her designs were my favorite, much to my pleasure, Bennett made it to the final three and my husband and I, as loyal watchers, were invited with millions of others, into her family's Manhattan apartment/loft. It was fascinating.

I was somewhat surprised when I learned shortly there after that I'm not the only kid counter in the world. Her appearance on the show garnered some press coverage (and, again, not because of her stitching style). On October 11, 2006, MSN published a story titled: Bucking the norm, some families think big. It's been followed by a series of articles, which I casually track, equating having a third child with getting a fancy sports car or an in-ground pool -- it means you have the means to live large. Here are a few links to some of the other intriguing stories:

Kids as Status Symbols: The rich no only have more money, they may also have more children

Three Kids? You Showoffs.

In Some Circles, Four Kids is the New Standard

To me, it's a new way of thinking about larger families (and one that doesn't, for once, take into consideration religion). It's a topic I hope to delve into more here in the coming weeks.