My husband and I just ended our debate about having children. To breed or not to breed, this was the question... Posted on 02/02/2013 8:03:59 AM PST by tom h
My husband and I choose to be childless in Seattle, writes editorial columnist Sharon Pian Chan
My husband and I just ended our debate about having children. To breed or not to breed, this was the question...
We have decided we have other things to give to the world. We won’t be having kids. We choose to be childless in Seattle. ...
Feminism empowered women to talk about motherhood as a pursuit that deserves as much attention as men’s work. In the past 20 years, women have bravely spoken about struggles to conceive, which helped educate a generation about fertility. But society rarely hears from women who decide not to have kids.
“Do you have children?” My friend’s standard answer is, “No, and it’s not for medical reasons.” I’m cribbing it.
Will I regret it?
Probably sometimes. Just like parents sometimes regret their choice.
Would I have to sacrifice my career goals if we had a child? Probably. I’ve gone from believing I can do it all to believing that life is short. Saying no to some things allows me to say yes to others.
My husband could be the primary caregiver while I charge after my goals, but then he would have to say no to some of his goals.
Am I being selfish if I don't have children?
I’m selfish for not committing to my hypothetical child’s well-being. But I will have a lot more attention and money to shower on real-life nieces, nephews, mentees and philanthropic causes.
Also, not having a child is the most important thing I could do to reduce my carbon footprint, according to a 2009 study by Oregon State University statisticians. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.com ...
On behalf of humanity, may I say, “Thank you.”
Its great starting off the day with some good news.
Naively helping humanity by not breeding more into this liberal utopian dogma.
her choice, I will say this, there is no love to touch that of a mother for her child and there is no misery so complete as your child suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, and furthermore, your child has the ability to enhance your life or wreck your life
My children have been blessings to me, especially as life events occur, and I get older.
And don't even get my started on my grandchildren. Blessings, all.
/johnny
“Just like parents sometimes regret their choice”.
Perhaps, I hang out with different types of people but I have NOT met one parent yet that regrets having a child. Could they regret not pushing Bobby more when he wanted to drop piano? Sure... but I have never met one parent(s) that regretted bringing Bobby into the world. My paternal Grandmother had a saying: you are a couple and will always be a couple until you have (adopt) a child. A child makes you a family. Otherwise, you will live your life as a couple. The older I get, the more I realize that my matriarchal Irish Grandma was wise!
“Also, not having a child is the most important thing I could do to reduce my carbon footprint, according to a 2009 study by Oregon State University statisticians”
Wow, And who is the recipient that she is concerned about To live in the world with less carbon? Children of the religious people? In any case, thank you lady for your contribution.
Why are they not having kids?
Because God says you should.
That’s the nub of it.
Why is she still living? After all the “internal insight” of the planets health and the welfare of humans, her career goals....it should be clear that she is contributing the downfall of the universe with her presence.....she might want to explore a big bottle of sleeping pills with a pint of vodka taken at all once.
I would make one observation...without knowing much on the lady....that she has lived her entire life in a metropolitan area. I doubt that she’s ever gone on a road tour across Iowa, or sat in a humble small-town cafe in Tennessee, or watched a kid’s softball game in July.
Her parents should have made the same contribution.
What a weird turn of phrase!
I’ll call that a good start!
Her moral self-righteousness is typical of many liberals.
They remind me of a giant squid squirting its ink, indiscrimanently and in all directions.
‘Pod
And what if you had, Mom? Does that mean you wouldn't get old and eventually die?
Yep. Every liittle bit helps.
“To breed or not to breed, this was the question.”
How appropriate that choice of words are. I have never thought of having and raising moral, responsible, motivated children as “breeding”.
yeah she could further “reduce” her stupid “carbon footprint” if she wasn’t around either.........what lunacy
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