Married, without children: Finding fulfillment with no kids

Rocky Mountain News ^ | 1/3/05 | Mark Wolf

[LizardQueen]

Message to DINKS: Please don't regale us with stories about your "babies" (dogs or cats) at coffee. Please!

Message to parents: I'll be happy to listen to you regale me with stories about your human children, but in return I expect you to listen to stories about my dog.

LQ

[exnavychick]

Then, by the same token, we shouldn't bore them with tales of our babies either. :)

[exnavychick]

Good golly, I would hope not! :)

[Durus]

Well said.

[Ellesu]

That's just it. It's their "choice" to have or have not, and no one else's concern. I don't whine to childless couples about my 3 and I don't want them bragging about being able to fly anywhere anytime because they don't have any. I could care less. If you choose to have children, you make the sacrifices and shut-up, if you choose not to, don't complain about not getting any attention or get defensive and tell me your reasons for remaining childless.

[HairOfTheDog]

The most "fulfilled" DINKS I know are those who pursue equestrian hobbies. Horses take the place of kids both for having something to love and at the same time having something to take your money.

Am I one of those RB? We feel pretty fulfilled!

And where would I put the baby while cleaning stalls? :~D

[exnavychick]

Ugh. My least favorite part. And the worst is changing a nasty diaper when you have morning sickness. Many is the time I've had to hand the chore over in a hurry so as not to make a mess of my own! LOL

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

Wanting only two children qualifies as well. No society can be maintained with that sort of outlook.

An infinitely increasing population is a recipe for disaster. There are very real limits to water tables, arable land, and so forth. Exponential systems always crash.

[Aquinasfan]

What harm do these folks do by choosing not to have kids?"

Besides slapping God in the face (artificial contraception is like binging and purging, except this is "binging and purging" with the greatest human power, the ability to co-create children with God), the implications for society are obvious.

[wallcrawlr]

It doesn't occur to anybody to celebrate a child-free woman in that way.

A new level of selfishness. Not only dont they want kids but they want to get celebrated for it. sheesh.

I'll bet a lot of these people have pets that are spoiled beyond belief...most orphaned children would be grateful with half the love received by these pets.

[RebelBanker]

Complete instruction manual included.

Where do I get one of those? Every book I have found is full of liberal "feel-good" claptrap and is completely useless when dealing with a real child.

[GOP_1900AD]

RE: Most give up that hope about the time the schools get hold of them.

DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!

Correctomundo! Herein lies an essential demotivator to me fathering a child!

[Aquinasfan]

But the older I get, the more I feel my own mortality, the more I realize that time spent on myself is more of a necessity than an entitlement or priviledge. And spending too much time on myself is just vanity, a waste that neither makes me nor anyone else happy.

Well said.

[Rebelbase]

Hey, I'm not knocking it, just presenting my observation of a few of my friends. Sometimes I wish I was their horse.

[GOP_1900AD]

God Bless You!

[Aquinasfan]

Easier to care for than kids.

Actually, this isn't true. My wife and I both had dogs when we were married, and didn't have any luck getting pregnant for a couple of years. So I can tell you that taking care of two dogs is more work than taking care of two children. Infants and toddlers require more care, but that only lasts for a few years. Dogs remain babies forever. 8-)

[Modernman]

Besides slapping God in the face (artificial contraception is like binging and purging, except this is "binging and purging" with the greatest human power, the ability to co-create children with God),

If there is a God, that slap to the face is between them and Him.

the implications for society are obvious

A statistically insignificant percentage of people choosing not to have children really makes no difference to society at large. Furthermore, I would wager that DINK couples contribute more to society than they take out, financially-speaking.

In any event, the only reason we are particularly concerned with birthrates is because we have set up the social security pyramid scheme. If it wasn't for that, all we would really need is a replacement level birthrate, and we are close to that right now. We can make up the difference with (smart) immigration, if need be.

[Wage Slave]

"Whether or not I want to have kids is not the only consideration," said Wenker. "I believe there's a problem with population, serious issues with the environment, and I believe I have to be part of the solution."

Heh heh. This Wanker guy, doesn't he live next door to the Griswolds?

[willyboyishere]

Yeah, and babies don't crawl over and eat their puke after they do it. And they don't bark.

[cyborg]

LOL!