Posted on 11/05/2004 11:52:42 AM PST by iheartusa
Hildy,
So sad for your loss.
Do you think everyone should have children, regardless of their ability to raise them?
I think you are making a smart choice.
Too many people would not have your courage and in-sight to make that decision.
Glad to hear that. :-)
While I agree that folks who aren't prepared to be parents probably shouldn't be, that's a completely different beast from "Kids are Overrated". Kids are generally terrific, if their parents do their job. Many parents are overrated.
Well, somebody went to HIS website and copied it from HIS webiste, so blame the internet.
Well, somebody went to HIS website and copied it from HIS webiste, so blame the internet.
Anyway, a person who has not had to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars raising kids will probably be in a pretty good position to take care of themselves when they get older.
Unless, of course, they have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars TRYING to have kids. Then what?
I appreciate your comments throughout this thread.
Yes, and the same is true (only more so) for singles.
Ahh, that's the hard part - finding someone who will requite that love.
I suppose it comes down to this... How much value is there in always doing as you choose? To never have to sweat it out for someone else?
Not all people who do not have children live solely for themselves. And many people who do have children cannot be bothered to actually be involved with them. We shouldn't assume people fall into one catagory or another.
I adore my children. THAT'S why they can make me so nuts! I would be a much shallower human being if I didn't have to put some of my own needs aside to meet theirs and delay gratifiction. Now, I didn't have kids to improve my character. It's just a nice side benefit.
I think it's a shame that people jump onto the bandwagon of, "Let's please only ourselves and never do anything difficult because it's so much easier and FUN that way!" There is value in extending yourself for others. People of character do hard things and work through them. They see the reward is in the process of learning and growing.
My daughter is 6'1" and can kick objects 2 feet over her head. She'll kick your a$$. ;)
Men have different reasons not to have kids than women.
The odds are quite good--almost half--that regardless of whether a man wants kids or not he won't be allowed to be a father.
Count in the amount of abortions and I'll bet less than half of men who genuinely love and want children are ever allowed to become fathers.
If you are married with children, a man can lose it all on a wife's word. On her whim. Men in the US can be cast aside like women in Muslim countries.
It's not the same for men--men now have legitimate reasons not to have children.
I agree.
See post 45. :-)
Well stated. And when the kids end up with mom, she will have an endless amount of time to demonize the dad. I will never forget crying inside as my daughter started to parrot her mothers standard complaints.
"Your father ruined my retirment"
"Your father hates woman"
"Your father lies all the time"
This from a woman that had an affair with my brother. Of course I can never bring this fact up to my kids. I hope they never find out. Of course I was the sole reason for the failed marriage according to everybody. She is just so sweet and innocent. Barf........
Ouch.... That sucks.
Mine calls HR where I work about twice a week and tells them that I'm such a rotten person that I should be fired.
I had to change my handle here 'cuz she was cyber-stalking me as well...
Thank God I decided not to have kids with her. I would have lost them and I couldn't have taken it.
Guys, you've gotta face it nowadays, you're a sucker if you get married and have kids.
50/50 chance you will lose them, your house, car, retirement, savings and land.
What kind of idiot plays those odds?
>Not all people who do not have children live solely for themselves. And many people who do have children cannot be bothered to actually be involved with them. We shouldn't assume people fall into one catagory or another.<
Good point. I'm single without kids, but I still belong to a family and I still have responsibilities. I help my sister with her kids all the time, and I'm the oldest so all the gripes fall to me, I have primary responsibility for our mom, the list goes on and on.
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