I am the youngest child of three and because of this when I meet other people who are the third of three, I have the same question for all of them. The question is this - are you an “oops” baby like me?
I’ve done this all my life and I can confirm that around 80 per cent reply in the affirmative. I’ve also found that a number of “oops” babies were then gifted another sibling because their parents did not want to have uneven numbers.
It got me thinking about how many humans are alive on the planet thanks to mistakes of one kind or another. I for example was a mistake encouraged along by a little too much vodka and orange one evening. Yes, I agree vodka and orange - ghastly combination but there you are.
So, I googled the question and this is what it gave me in return: -
Nearly half of all pregnancies, totalling 121 million each year worldwide, are unintended, according to a new report published on Wednesday by the UN's sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA.
My follow up question is this - are these people really “mistakes” or was the world predestined to have these humans alive on the planet right now?
I suspect I cannot Google that one but it’s an interesting question none the less.
I’m really happy that I am alive and I suspect that the other 121 million feel much the same way. I also love that both Mum and Dad told me over and over again that yes, I was technically a mistake but that they could not imagine our family without me in it.
It made me feel very special and just a little bit magical all at the same time. I’m expecting my letter from Hogwarts any day now.