It’s a growing concern that world leaders, economists and religious leaders are warning about: people aren’t having enough children.

In many countries, birth rates are plummeting below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman — the minimum needed to maintain a stable population.

In the United States, women now have about 1.6 children on average, down from about two 30 years ago. Japan and much of Europe are lower still, at about 1.2 and 1.3.

Economists warn that as birth rates fall, workforces shrink and populations age. Aging societies have higher pension costs and medical bills with fewer young people to fund them.

Bigger families would produce more young people, who invent, work, generate tax contributions and look after their aging parents.

Religious leaders say another gain is that big families teach children selflessness and sharing — virtues that benefit societies far outside of the home.

I couldn’t agree more.

Only Son with Five Sisters

I was raised as an only boy with five sisters, which was at once a blessing and a curse.

When I was 12, the neighborhood bully was constantly picking on me, but I had no brothers to teach me to fight. My sisters taught me. I looked the bully dead in the eye and said, “You are soooooooo immature!”

Despite having no brothers, my father, always tight with a buck, made me wear........

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