Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

[Gizmo]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

Just to put my input into this thread...

I'm the oldest of five children. I'm 26 years old and I have a four year old brother but I treat him like my son. I love children and love being around them but in no way am I ready to be a father. I've been with my girlfriend for a year now and he's actually a teacher's assistant at a Pre-K school so she LOVES being around children and wants to have children some day. We hope to wait til we get married to have a child but at the same time whenever we are both some where and I see other kids misbehaving, that little thought in the back of my head tells me not to LOL It's not a bad thing, but you honestly have to be ready for fatherhood. Before I met my girlfriend, I knew I always wanted children but at the same time I knew it wouldn't be a bad thing if it wasn't for a while that i had one.

Point being, kids change your life as most have said but no one pressures you to have one and if you feel deep down you don't want children, you can live a happy life no matter what anyone tells you but your life seems to change seeing your child happy. It makes you smile.

[12]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

"You have no idea what it's like to have your own, it just changes you. It changes everything."

Yeah, yeah, we get it. I brought up that issue long ago, and we've addressed it. If I had a child, I would be happy with my child and I'd relish the challenge of being a great dad.

That's not the issue.

The issue is that on the other side of the equation, I'm happy that I don't. That doesn't mean I'm throwing eggs at family vans as they pass by. It's just when I see people with children and the way their lives have changed for those children, I'm very very happy that my life hasn't turned into that. I'm a very ambitious person who's into a lot of different things that take up my time. Fact of the matter is I'd have to give a lot of that up if I were to have children. I've seen other people give it up. I don't feel sorry for them, of course, but at the same time I do a little touchdown dance in my head when I see the parenthood derail people's life goals.

It's not in doubt that having my own child would change me. The point is that is not a change that I welcome, and I'm happy to be driving in my lane, in my motorcycle passing the minivans and flashing the devil symbol while on my way to doing non-parent stuff.

Honestly, good for you. Completely respectable.

[12]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

What is cocky or arrogant?

Honestly? Probably the line that you used saying parenthood derails people's lives and goals. Am I reading into it too much? Derail is a pretty strong word.

We all just need to agree to disagree... People are justifying and arguing this thread to death. My personal apologies for even getting involved in this thread. Us parents really should have stayed out.

[12]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

So those who have kids do less quality work? Don't understand your whole rant. Plenty of people everyday work an immense workload, have families, are happy w/ their life and decisions to raise a family, don't take one look back on their single life, and are probably in far more technical jobs than animation. All the while being outstanding parents.

You're reading MUCH too far in to what he says... I didn't get that at all from his post... Come on, man.

[55]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

Us parents really should have stayed out.

[12]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

Haha... but come on. You damn well knew we weren't going to.

[mKoz26]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

Because threads without differing opinions are so interesting.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

As if raising kids during the black plaque or great frontier were any easier.

2010 Challenges: Securing a financial future for your family. H1N1 virus (what a pandemic -- scarcasm).

1846 US Western Pioneer challenges: Trying to not get killed by Indians and/or wildlife.

1348-1350: Trying not to become a statistic of the Black Death.

The average family knows where their next meal is coming from today. A hundred to 200 years ago, maybe not so much. I'll take having to step up my moneymaking game over fending for my life versus territorial indian tribes and hungry wolves any day of the week.

Our media has fear mongered us into thinking the world TODAY is as bad as it was back then.

Right, but corruption in humanity isn't a new concept. There's been corruption since there's been power.

[JBH3]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

Right, but corruption in humanity isn't a new concept. There's been corruption since there's been power.

I know...I was piggybacking on what you said.

Corruption, violence, disease, famine...its been around since man was created. This world is no worse than the world 100 yrs ago. Replace terrorism w/ WWI, WWII, Vietnam...with the Civil War, Revolutionary War, French/Indian War....almost, if not every generation of American lineage has seen a war during their life.

Its just that everything is so widely reported nowadays, and positive news is few and far between or glazed over because it is not sensationalized and people think this world is worse than the world 100 yrs ago....then produce statements like "How could I w/ good conscience bring a child into this world". How? The same way every generation before you did.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

I know...I was piggybacking on what you said.

Corruption, violence, disease, famine...its been around since man was created. This world is no worse than the world 100 yrs ago. Replace terrorism w/ WWI, WWII, Vietnam...with the Civil War, Revolutionary War, French/Indian War....almost, if not every generation of American lineage has seen a war during their life.

Its just that everything is so widely reported nowadays, and positive news is few and far between or glazed over because it is not sensationalized and people think this world is worse than the world 100 yrs ago....then produce statements like "How could I w/ good conscience bring a child into this world". How? The same way every generation before you did.

Ah, I thought you were disagreeing with me. Misinterpretation on my part, sorry about that.

[deaduck]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

Because threads without differing opinions are so interesting.

Or....they turn out to be open exchanges between cats in the same boat who can discuss it without somebody from the opposite viewpoint trying to constantly make a "point".

I think I would have rather read more open discourse about not having kids and the situations around it than the banter between dads trying to explain what we're "missing". It's no disrespect to fathers but your viewpoints are the norm and are represented in almost every form of media.

[Hova57]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

Deadduck you are reading way too far into want you bolded. its fact that many said they weren't ready for kids. I'm not on here bashing anyone's view of their life without children. I feel like what i last posted was the general consensus. I can see how it would be easier to do things you want without having to worry about the things that come with having children.

Honestly what many of you see from the outside isn't the whole story of raising a child. it can be fun at times and miserable but it comes with the territory. Believe if were you were man I'm glad i don't have children in the Target , there were parents saying man I'm glad that's not my child. I have a brother with view like you guys. he likes kids but where he wants to take his career a child doesn't fit. Will he prob won't have kids i don't think. I'm not mad at him or look at him differently because i know where he's coming from.

Financially its a sticky road. if you have the opportunity to make more money you should go for it, but more times than not it means less time with the family. If your family means more to you than the money then you'll stick where you are. You'll make due much like the one person on here who's dad worked for UPS. I myself was in a posistion where I was making more money and alot more hours . Though the money was great i didn't get to enjoy it , i didn't see my kids or there events, didn't see my wife, i was tired all the time . There was a point where i had to leave my daughters birthday party because of work and didn't come home til 4 hours later and that was after i had already worked that day. My wife and I decided that it was better for me to be home with my kids. its a decision i don't regret our marriage is better, i can coach , go to my kids events and just hang out and enjoy my kids. But once again it was a choice I made.

[sb24]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

Born I understand and agree completely. All that needs to be said since most of this thread has turned into what fathers think.

[JBH3]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

Or....they turn out to be open exchanges between cats in the same boat who can discuss it without somebody from the opposite viewpoint trying to constantly make a "point".

I think I would have rather read more open discourse about not having kids and the situations around it than the banter between dads trying to explain what we're "missing". It's no disrespect to fathers but your viewpoints are the norm and are represented in almost every form of media.

I. Could. Care. Less. If. You. Don't. Want. Kids. And. Are. Glad. About. It.

That is not my issue. My issue was the statements implying that those who are "GLAD" they don't have them see their life as better because they're able to do more things of their own personal interest, and that since their freedom to make choices with only their self involved (career choices, or "recreational" choices) is better than being a parent. Statements like:

The point is that is not a change that I welcome, and I'm happy to be driving in my lane, in my motorcycle passing the minivans and flashing the devil symbol while on my way to doing non-parent stuff.

...Is interpreted by me that he feels superior to a mini-van driving dad. As if we envy him on his motorcycle, and want to be in his shoes....

[NDAlum]

Re: Anybody else glad that they DON'T have kids?

No. It's him not wanting to be in your shoes and happy he isn't. He is talking from his point of view, not yours.