Brilliant. You are hovering around the real reason why nobody marries and has kids. Our young men can't support three people: hubby, missus, and the kid. And no, she isn't going from the birthing room straight back to the work force, dragging her IV pole and a few bloody towels. And no, the kiddie won't be sleeping through the night anytime soon. Children don't raise themselves. You can't subcontract the job out. Not on your salary. And it doesn't work well that way.

Hurray for the Jewish Mother! Down with Margaret Mead's smear of her, and Woddy Allen's too, and Phillip Roth's.

Mommy bear, Daddy bear, and Baby bear. You got a better idea? Now, how are we going to pay for it? Now that the urban middle class ain't no mo'. Can we learn to be happy and poor again? Can we learn to do without Manolo Blahniks? Can we get assertive about this? Our forebears didn't take any nonsense. They had values. We have been Calvin Kleined.