Why Did Kim Kardashian Talk About Her Baby Plans?

Kim Kardashian isn’t even married. She just got engaged to some NBA player named Kris Humphries. But she did that thing that downlist celebrities do where they execute their finely tuned sense of press whoredom to get media coverage.

And yes, I realize I’m obliging her here. But it’s to make a point.

The lovely Kardashian was asked about plans for children and she said:

“I hope so, I really hope so. Maybe by the end of the year. I’m so excited, waiting for my new life to start.”

But, she clarified: “Well, I won’t have [a baby] by the end of the year, but maybe we’ll start trying by the end of the year. After the wedding.”

Oh well, that’s great. Way to wait for the wedding before you try to get pregnant. Such discipline, celebrity lady.

But I guess what annoys me is the general idea that we can effectively plan when to have our children. I mean, it is true that you can take actions to prevent conception (or attempt to prevent conception). But just because you want to have children doesn’t mean they will come. My husband and I had no problem with our first two but have had trouble since then. It’s made me much more humble about the miracle of life and how little control we have over when we get our children.

I think our culture could use a bit more humility there, too. Kardashian is saying nothing that different from what I hear many men and women say. But should we treat babies as a consumer good? I mean, the last time I said I was hoping for something and hoping I’d get it by the end of the year, it was an iPad. Babies are no iPads. They are not consumer goods to be acquired. They are blessings granted to couples. Our language should reflect that.