[Accygirl]

"Do yourself a favor, and talk to as many single moms as you can before you opt for single parenthood. It's not about being a "PTA mommy", but the myriad of activities that kids involve themselves in, whether it be dance, sports, you name it. You will owe it to your child(ren) to be actively involved in their lives. "

Frankly, I think that many of those kids do the activities for their parents, not because the kids want to. Kids would be more happy if they were able to play a pick-up game of basketball or dance around their rooms rather than having to go to an organized activity. Organized activities are important in high school as college want to admit students passionate about something, but not before then.

"God forbid your child not share your passion for education (lol)! My daughter is doing quite well in college, while my son has been a marginal student. He will be attending a local community college until he proves that he can handle the requirements of a 4 year college."

And I don't find guys that aren't intellectual or professionally motivated personally appealing. Nor do I think that your son would find me interesting.

"Beware! Babies are messy, and demanding. Please don't wear expensive clothing while burping the "ankle biter", lest he/she spit up several ounces of formula on you. Demanding? You can count on your baby waking up in the middle of the night BEFORE an important presentation. "

That happens whether or not you're married or decide to work.

[luckystarmom]

If you still decide that you want a child and you are single, I have one suggestion: adopt. Instead of bringing a baby into a 1 parent household, you would be providing a parent to a child who doesn't have one. It's a win-win situation.

[Night Hides Not]

Frankly, I think that many of those kids do the activities for their parents, not because the kids want to. Kids would be more happy if they were able to play a pick-up game of basketball or dance around their rooms rather than having to go to an organized activity. Organized activities are important in high school as college want to admit students passionate about something, but not before then.

You may be correct, but let me clue you in to the real world, at least as I know it.

I have a niece in first grade taking two dance lessons a week, because she wants to follow in my daughter's footsteps, and be a "Coppell Lariette". The drill team competes in national competitions every year, and the competition to make the team is fierce! 75% of the young ladies on the team have been in dance lessons since they were in pre-kinder.

When it comes to sports, ANY sport, the kids who make the team normally have been playing in organized leagues from age 7 or 8. For baseball and hockey, the choices are more pronounced: elite players sometimes have to choose between their HS team, or their (elite) traveling league.

During my son's HS career, he's played trumpet in the band. Their travels have included trips to Dublin, Ireland, London, San Antonio (several times), Corpus Christi, and they'll perform in Washington, DC in April.

Frankly, I think that many of those kids do the activities for their parents, not because the kids want to.

Accygirl, I strongly recommend that you make a trip to Texas during football season. The pomp and pageantry on Friday nights might dispel you of that notion: the football teams, the bands, the color guards, the drill teams, the cheerleaders.

Add to that the parents who cheer their sons and daughters on, and the younger kids who aspire to be part of the fun on Friday nights. It's a positive kind of peer pressure that propels these young men and women, instead of merely doing it to please Mom & Dad.