Jennifer Aniston in motherhood row

She was never having a go at men, fathers or the conventional family unit! Surely what she said shows young girls that they DON'T need to be frantically sleeping with boys and getting pregnant early on?
I would much rather have Jennifer Aniston as my single parent than Bill O' Reilly as even a distant uncle in a large family! And I'd take her advice on parenting over his any day- even though she's not yet got kids. Bill O'Reilly is an idiot.
Comment by Bec on August 13 13:27

If anything I think it's actually brave of her to announce her thoughts, so what if she wants to raise a child on her own, bloody hell, she's hardly got the hardest of lives. Any child she brought up would be loved and cared for, whether it's with or without a dad.

She wasn't denying that in an ideal flouncy made up world a child should have two parents, personally I'd like to meet a child who's got the same two parents they were supposed to have these days.

I don't know how anything she said was directed at the dad's who do like parenting, there are gay men adopting children, and we barely turn a blind eye. Yet one, extrememly popular female says she wants to do it without a man and people throw sticks at her.

If Bill O'Reilly loves parenting as much as he does, imagine if we took his right away just because he hadn't found someone to love and trust in his life.

Ridiculous.
Comment by Bee on August 13 14:04

Agree with O'Reilly - I think Aniston is talking about becoming pregnant via donor or adopting alone (or equivalent, I don't know all the options), rather than slating single parenting because of the father being unsuitable/unavailable. It's clear that 2 parents at home is the ideal, of course, and yes not always possible. But she is saying she wold CHOOSE to go it alone because science now allows her. Personally, I think this is really selfish - on the one hand admitting it's best to have 2 parents, but on the other entertaining this idea because SHE wants to be a mother.

As usual, we are being sold an 'entitlement' culture - i'm entitled to have kids even though i'm not in a relationship, not dissimilar to I'm entitled to benefits because there's no jobs... etc.
Comment by Jules on August 13 14:05

I'm 60 years old. I had to wait until I was 31 to have my first child. Three men ditched me before I met "Mr Right" and he's no prince charming.
I agree with Jenifer... If you are of a certain age and you want kids just do it before its physically too late!

And treat ADULT conversations as that - ADULT.

The stigma of children outside of marriage is so outdated - we are no longer Victorian biggots or bible bashers... I'm a woman and person in my own right, able to stand on my own feet and raise a child with or without help and I DO know that WITH help is better!
Comment by carol on August 13 14:13

'Respected'Fox News pundit - I live in the States and the only people who respect Bill O'Reilly are crazy right wing conservatives who like to listen to the rantings of an egotist and hypocrite! Given his history, he's in no position to criticise anyone.
Comment by Julie on August 13 14:15

That's really harsh! What are your comments based on? Do you know her personally?!
Comment by S on August 13 15:42

i agree with jen. ideally two parents are better than one but with so many options now, women dont have to settle with a guy they dont love just to have a child!
Comment by nathaie on August 13 15:53

way to go jen....this mans comments show the hostility of men/fathers towards mothers women who want and indeed now can raise children without them...the one thing that men cant have any control over....womens lib is getting stronger and men dont like it...half the children are better off and science is actually starting to prove, and why are fathers always wanting a medal for being a father...do mothers ask for anything alike??
Comment by cat on August 13 18:34

How ridiculous once again, I can't believe there is such a furore over her comments. As usual this is political correctness gone insane! In an ideal world... blah blah blah, there was a lot of unhappiness in the "olden days" of the perfect family unit as much as there is today. Men and women each have their own special role when it comes to parenting. They don't have to be under the same roof to achieve this. Single Mothers AND single Fathers are equally capable, a wedding ring does not entitle you to believe your life is "ideal".
Comment by Amy Boyce-White on August 13 18:53

God..leave the woman alone!!!!
Shes just saying what she thinks ..and here comes another newsguy of a certain age off on a tangent of his own 'belief'...say what?
I have heard and read many a stupid comment from our so called celebs..but really...what a lot of fuss about nowt....
Comment by anon on August 13 21:15

The obvious contradiction in this story is that Jen says "women no longer need men to have children" (fact, Women who are financially & socially advanced are well equipped to have children outside the social norms)is being compared to: 'She's throwing a message out to 12-year-olds and 13-year-olds that hey, you don't need a guy, you don't need a dad,' he said of Jen’s comments.

Newsflash: 12-13 year olds are not Women [ie the women Jen is referring to in her comment], they are children who have babies after having unprotected sex [usually because they are far too immature to A. be having sex and B. think about contraception]
Jen;'s comments are clearly aimed at the mature women who are constantly told by the media that they are 'past it' by the age of 32, not at pre teens.


Comment by Karen on August 14 01:41

Maybe men need to step up and make themselves useful, then us intelligent women may feel the need for one in our life!
Comment by Jus on August 14 13:28

I would love to have children with a man, but there is an increasing proportion of men in the UK who have no need or desire to settle down with a woman. They date and sleep with various women and just enjoy that freedom into their 30s and 40s, which is totally their choice. But it does mean that a lot of women my age (currently 28) could end up being too old to have children by the time we settle down (if we are lucky enough to actually manage to find someone to settle down with at all). It's heartbreaking and frustrating for the many women who feel broody and have strong maternal urges, so I cannot blame Jen for taking action before it's too late!
Comment by Caroline Baker on August 16 13:46