I Love the Kids in My Life. And I’m Raising None of Them.

The New York Times ^ | Sept. 7, 2024, 5:01 a.m. ET | Glynnis MacNicol

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Recently, a book tour gave me the opportunity to travel around America. Budgets being what they are, I primarily chose cities where I had friends who would happily provide me with places to stay. These were homes, almost without exception, filled with children. I have no children of my own, and this felt like a serendipitous chance to catch up with many of the kids in my life.

In America, there is a persistent, pernicious belief that the only way to be invested in a child’s life is to be a parent — and, for women, to give birth to that child. (Ella and Cole Emhoff, among others, would like a word.) In a country that offers so little support to parents, this often feels like a not-so-covert argument for taking women back to a time when they lacked control over their bodies and their finances.

Recently, the Pew Research Center reported that 64 percent of women under 50 who don’t have children say they “just don’t want to.” This has contributed to another round of hand-wringing about birthrates and childless cat ladies. What the seemingly inexhaustible discussion around this topic leaves out is that many people who say they don’t want to birth or parent children do have children in their lives — other people’s. We rarely account for that, nor do we give full weight to the fulfillment these relationships provide.

Which is not entirely surprising. So often we hear about the annoyance of other people’s children — babies crying on planes, kids fussing at restaurants. Rarely do we talk about the pleasure of these little people, or how transformative it is to have children in your life whom you’re not raising.

[frank ballenger]

RE: creepy....

Agree.

The Hillary book and speech idea It Takes A Village was from an African saying but it means to her that the Marxist educators and city dwellers will take over the raising and feeding of children by the government, including indoctrination.

The Black Panthers had a free breakfast program for publicity and the government did it later and added lunch. So millions depend on the food and would starve or have low concentration and energy in school from neglectful parents out of work or drunk or on drugs and not making meals for them.

US program: In fiscal year (FY) 2023, the program provided 2.4 billion breakfasts at a total cost of $5.2 billion.

School Meals Program “assures all breakfasts and lunches served to public-school students, grades Pre-K to 12, are free to all children.”

[Islander7]

It is a goodly happenstance that Glynnis MacNicol will not reproduce. It’s better for all of us.

[Nekman]

Judging by this article indicates this woman’s choice to not have children is both a wise decision and the direct result of finding nobody willing to procreate with her. The angry unlaid woman is a bitter woman.

[Thank You Rush]

“”Ella and Cole Emhoff.””

I didn’t even know there was a stepson...don’t think he was pointed out at the DNC convention but that weird stepdaughter sure was...

[Brian Griffin]

Seven days a week jobs and childcare can be shared.

Week 1

Mom 1
4 days job
3 days childcare
Mom 2
4 days child care
3 days job

Week 2

Mom 2
4 days job
3 days childcare
Mom 1
4 days child care
3 days job

If the workday is 10 hours long, each mom will average 35 hours a week working on average.

NOTE: It would be an entirely a private initiative, so it does not appear on my profile page as a campaign platform issue.

In 2024, unlike 1924, many companies like grocery stores, Walmart and Amazon operate seven days a week.

[21twelve]

Whenever I help out somewhere and the opportunity presents itself I’ll mention something like “Well - it takes a village. And in the original meaning of the saying where they mean the neighbors - not big government.”

[Alas Babylon!]

How many cats does she have?

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

Parents are not children. It is their job to support themselves.

[FreedomPoster]

And thus the creation and growth of the MGTOW movement. It’s a terrible thing, a sign of a really screwed up system.

[Lizavetta]

In America, there is a persistent, pernicious belief that the only way to be invested in a child’s life is to be a parent

Flat out industrial strength bullshit. I am 60 years old and have never heard that sentiment ever. What is she talking about?

Has this dumb woman heard of volunteering at organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club? Big Brothers Big Sisters?

[TonyinLA]

Childless woman could never have a real frame of reference of what child bearing life means in any sense. No more so than watching a football game lets the viewer understand what it takes to be a QB.

Poor woman has to intellectualize her empty, pointless life to retain some rationalization of her choices. She’ll find out the consequences of her misguided life as she ages and becomes more and more alone.

[Lizavetta]

What you said.

[House Atreides]

Glynnis, we really DON’T CARE about your life and your choices. I just wonder why people like you feel compelled to tell the rest of us that you’re happy.

[frank ballenger]

Another African saying inspired the business book
Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt By Harvey Mackay (1996).

Original was “Beware of the naked man who offers you clothes” an African proverb used to call out hypocrites.

Hillary’s was culturally appropriated from an African proverb from the Nigerian Igbo culture, “Oran a azu nwa”.
Said to mean an entire community of people must interact with children for those children to grow in a safe and healthy environment.

---

So long as they are turned into Commies always voting Dem.

---

Other African sayings:
A fight between grasshoppers is a joy to the crow.

A large chair does not make a king.

A happy man marries the girl he loves but a happier man loves the girl he marries.

He who eats another man’s food will have his own food eaten by others.

The youth walks faster but the elderly know the road.

A patient man will eat ripe fruit.

Two drops of water do not make a pool.

Money can’t talk but it can make lies look true.

[Ge0ffrey]

We’re all called to be mothers or fathers, whether physically or spiritally.

[JayGalt]

Some people like the author are really good at lying to themselves & rationalizing. Hopefully they will kick the bucket before they wise up so they can skip the desolation of regret.

[alternatives?]

Many singles want to be a like a grandparent or uncle but with less obligation. However there is a genetic attachment that doesn’t exist with strangers. Not many strangers want to deal with sick kids or surly teenagers.

[Angelino97]

A large chair does not make a king.

"The throne is an over decorated piece of furniture. It's what behind the throne that counts." -- Napoleon

(As spoken in Waterloo (1970), screenplay by H.A.L. Craig, Sergey Bondarchuk & Vittorio Bonicelli)

[T.B. Yoits]

As Kevin Samuels said, "Winter is coming." and "Buy a cat or die alone." (BACODA)

Women who embraced the Communist directive of Feminism will pay for it for the rest of their downward spiraling lives.

The New York Times knows there are a lot of women who rode the carousel and now find themselves damaged goods. The Times now hopes to market more false dreams to them. "Whored around? Can't pair bond? That's okay - you can delude yourself into finding fulfillment in looking out the window at your neighbors' kids and telling yourself you have meaning in their lives. Your cats will agree."

Television producers will have to go back and rewrite such surrogacy into any remake of "Sex and The City".

[blueunicorn6]

More subconscious sadness coming out.

If you want to have kids and, for whatever reason, you can’t, then you have my sympathy.

If you choose to not have kids and then tell everyone to show what a great person you are, well, keep it to yourself.

The rest of us think you’re being a grandstanding asshole.