Dear Prudence: Whoa, Momma

Now playing: Slate V, a video-only site from the world's leading online magazine. Visit Slate V at www.slatev.com.
Dear Prudence Whoa, Momma During a live chat, Dear Prudence offers advice on having children after tragedy, elective surrogacy, and the demands of parenting twins. By Emily Yoffe Posted Monday, Mar 26, 2012, at 07:12 PM ET Emily Yoffe, aka Dear Prudence, is on Washingtonpost.com weekly to chat live with readers. An edited transcript of this week's chat is below. (Sign up here to get Dear Prudence delivered to your inbox each week. Read Prudie's Slate columns here. Send questions to Prudence at prudence@slate.com.) Emily Yoffe:  Good afternoon, everyone. Q. Pregnancy After Unimaginable Tragedy: My stepchildren's mom died suddenly not long ago. They are 11 and 13, and now live with my husband and I; we have always lived nearby their mom's house. I recently discovered I was pregnant but have not told anyone—for over a week—because I'm not sure whether it would be fair to have the baby. My stepchildren obviously need unending amounts of love, support, and stability as my husband and I help them navigate their grief. A newborn would be a major disruption. But at the same time I want this baby so much. My husband and I had begun to try before his ex-wife died. Part of me is scared he will ask me to abort the baby. Another part thinks that's the only fair thing to do. What advice can you offer? A: I can't imagine anything that would signal more clearly that life goes on and joy can follow tragedy than your having a much wanted child. Of course your stepchildren need love and support now—they always will. But I think a new sibling will help everyone ... To continue reading, click here. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES Also In Slate Bazelon: Why We Can't Trust the Cops' New Account of Trayvon Martin's Killing Yet How a Catholic Congressman Became Embroiled in a Divorce Battle Between Two Orthodox Jews Can a Heart Transplant Change Your Personality?	Advertisement
Manage your newsletters subscription: Unsubscribe | Forward to a Friend | Advertising Information
Ideas on how to make something better? Send an e-mail to slatenewsletter@nl.slate.com. Copyright 2011 The Slate Group | Privacy Policy The Slate Group | c/o E-mail Customer Care | 1350 Connecticut Ave NW Suite 410 | Washington, D.C. 20036