Jessica Kibblewhite: Dad, I was hoping that you could share some advice. I’m finally at an age where I can appreciate much of what you share. So, my husband and I are thinking about having a child, and we obviously know that the world right now is in a very difficult place. How do you stay optimistic?

Edward Kibblewhite: I think how much advice you can give to the next generation is actually rather small. But I grew up after the war. We used to have missile site five miles from our school. And you could actually touch the warhead of the hydrogen bomb. We were pretty sure that these missiles would be fired. And I had a whole plan I had worked out. You know –

JK: [laughs] Of course you did.

EK: The, underground place to go, and you know. I mean, the whole population believed we would be burned to death. So, the fears of today are as far as I can see, nothing compared to the fears we grew up with.

JK: I think that just to say that fear is unfounded-

EK: -That’s now what I’m saying….well, perhaps it is. Um…  

JK: But I do feel scared for the future. 

EK: What’s the alternative?

JK: Not having a kid in the 21st century.

EK: I think if you do not have children because you fear the future, that is to misunderstand what it means to be human. Um…having you as a daughter was a very moving experience. And in the case of my parents, WWII started on September the first, 1939. My sister was born the next year. So, having children is an act of hope, and if you do not have children because of fear, then you have given up hope for the future.

JK: Maybe it’s a choice to feel hope. Also, you and mom will make great grandparents. [laughs]

EK: Well [laughs], prob—, probably not.

JK: [laughs]. You will. [laughs]