of my friends on their meaning of children. My female friends, who had no children at the time, thought of children as a chance to contribute to society in a positive manner. The idea of molding an individual within the boundaries of society excited them as if it were, just plain and simply their calling in life. My male friends, a little uncomfortable about maybe hurting my feelings, thought of children as, one friend put, kids, that are not your own, are like the highest fence on the obstacle course with an unreachable rope dangling in front of you to hoist up on. I had to laugh at that analogy, but I was also able to understand and empathize to the clarification he gave me afterwards. That clarification, of wanting to be a positive role model in a childs life, but without the problems associated with a single mother such as, maybe being either too defensive to outside discipline, or perhaps the possibility of an uncooperative biological father, meant that this person seriously considered a few of the positives and negatives when becoming involved with a blended family. On the other hand, I have female friends that feel this society is so corrupt and therefore it is useless and unfair to bring a child into such disarray, and male friends that see children as a chance to continue the surname. Through this experience of interviews and others for that matter, I find it is the majority that men place a single mother on the list of avoidance and women perceive a single mother to be strong and responsible.To me, Kayla represents: a past love affair, a stage in my life of intense decision making, beauty, fear, dedication, responsibility, irresponsibility, patience, happiness, sadness, nurturing, education, and last but not least a future. To others, Kayla represents: responsibility, time constraints, educated, well mannered, beauty, a question of a cooperative or uncooperative father, friendship, an excellent student, a disrupted chi...
