Do the Truly Great Ever Raise Kids?

[Anonymous]

I'm amazed that people think Michelle Obama had a great career "because of her husband." - UM - SHE WAS HIS[u] BOSS.
Hillary was a successful lawyer as well. She and Bill met in law school. I'm sure she would have done the world tons of good, even if her dh wasn't POTUS.

Nancy Pelosi raised 5 kids (I think it's 5) before entering politics.

It also really depends what your definition of "great" is. There are many people who appear to do good or great things and are shitty ass people.

And what about the people who themselves raise the "truly great"? These include many poor single moms, blue collar workers, SAHMs, etc.

I choose to judge people by the content of their character and NOT by their job title or position in heirarchy

[Anonymous]

I am sorry but Toni Morrison definitely ranks as great. How many American writers have won a Nobel Prize? I think for fame and sales Maya Angelou could probably also qualify but I don't think she would be a universally recognized "great." But we can all agree that these two ladies were certainly quite productive and well-known in their field.

[Anonymous]

Writers are not "great." It's not like they're lifting people out of poverty or curing polio.

[Anonymous]

Respectfully disagree re: writers not being "great." They may not do those things, but their words can inspire others to do those things. Plus they can provide needed solace and comfort in a crazy, crazy world. I would not want to live in a world without great writers. And I am not a writer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Writers are not "great." It's not like they're lifting people out of poverty or curing polio.

You clearly have never read a poem or a book that has impacted you greatly, or changed you in some way. Not trying to be snarky, but that sucks for you. It really does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry but Toni Morrison definitely ranks as great. How many American writers have won a Nobel Prize? I think for fame and sales Maya Angelou could probably also qualify but I don't think she would be a universally recognized "great." But we can all agree that these two ladies were certainly quite productive and well-known in their field.

In my eyes, they are both "truly great," both for purposes of this dialogue and in general. At least to me, this is so obvious that it's almost silly to debate the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Writers are not "great." It's not like they're lifting people out of poverty or curing polio.

So many Philistines around here...

[Anonymous]

I think writers are pretty great. As a child who was abused and felt very alone and afraid, I turned to reading as a way to escape my reality and lose myself in whatever book that I was reading.

[Anonymous]

It's such a spurious question given its vagueness of definitions. Any person that anyone threw out could be negated as not being "truly great" or not actually "raising kids." How can you tell? It's not like people as a general rule publicize how they raise their children. Measuring "greatness" is also subjective (see issue whether writers are "great"). That said, you can see the range of what "great" people decide regarding childbearing using one very subjective measure - whether someone has received a "Genius Grant" and has children. Of the 23 2010 MacArthur fellows - . Just under half seem to have children. Keep in mind however, that many on this list are still in their childbearing years so could go on to be both "great" and good parents. Shocking, I know.
Amir Abo-Shaeer, physics teacher (1child - 8 years old)
Jessie Little Doe Baird, indigenous language preservationist (5 children)
Kelly Benoit-Bird, marine biologist (doesn't appear to have children - only 34 yo)
Nicholas Benson, stone carver (2 children)
Drew Berry, biomedical animator (doesn't appear to have children)
Carlos D. Bustamante, population geneticist (likely 1 child)
Matthew Carter, type designer (doesn't appear to have children)
David Cromer, theater director (doesn't appear to have children)
John Dabiri, biophysicist (only 30 yo, no children yet.)
Shannon Lee Dawdy, anthropologist (1 child)
Annette Gordon-Reed, American historian (2 children)
Yiyun Li, fiction writer (2 children)
Michal Lipson, optical physicist (2 children - and quote "With two careers and now two sons, ages 9 and 2, they say there is no time for hobbies. "We put the kids to bed and go downstairs and work together. When the kids are off to Hebrew school or with a babysitter, we go off to the coffee shop; we both bring our laptops and work," Michal says."
Nergis Mavalvala, quantum astrophysicist (unreported)
Jason Moran, jazz pianist and composer (twin sons with opera singer Alica Moran)
Carol Padden, sign language linguist (three children)
Jorge Pardo, installation artist (unreported)
Sebastian Ruth, violist, violinist, and music educator (unreported)
Emmanuel Saez, economist (no)
David Simon, author, screenwriter, and producer (no)
Dawn Song, computer security specialist (no)
Marla Spivak, entomologist (no)
Elizabeth Turk, sculptor (no)