My wife and I have a son and are planning to have a second kid. Neither of us wanted kids when we met, but a switch flipped and we changed our minds.

I have nothing against people who choose not to breed. That's their right, and only they can decide how best to spend their days. Some people, frankly, shouldn't be parents; it's great if they then act accordingly.

But I can't imagine life without my son. He's my greatest joy.

unsaved wrote:Well, I think I'll go browse in a couple bookstores and then come home and take a nap. You. Have. A. Nice. Day.

Wow! Sounds like you're livin' it up there! I can see why you'd hate to have a shorty ruin your awesome rock star lifestyle!

Wife and two kids. Yes, personal time is in short supply, and there's a lot of work to it all (like spending this past Saturday night through Sunday morning in the ER with a feverish two-year-old, who's pretty much ok now), but it's all worth it.

the$inmusicisallmine wrote:If you don't want kids, the wise choice, and the one I support, is not to have them. Bravo.

I agree with this. If you want to have kids and can, great. Have 'em. If you want to and can't, adopt. If you don't want to have 'em, don't--great, again. People who don't want to have them, but have them anyway, and resent them for it...those people suck.

unsaved wrote:

busbus wrote:We decided to have one a few years back. He's the coolest little thing since Ampeg SVT amplifiers. He's almost two and I can't wait until he turns into my little helper or a drummer. I am going to need someone to jam with when I'm really old.

More parental fantasies. Odds are by the time he's a teenager, he won't want anything to do with you and what he see as your stupid, lame, old fart music. Oh, and probably everything else you value or believe in. So stop it already with your hopes for your own Chuck Dukowski family band and this little person you think you're going to mold to your liking.

My parents wanted me to love Jesus just like they did--sucks to be them!

look, it is clear that you hate your parents. because of that you don't want to be a parent. fine.

why do you have to piss on everybody who does not choose your path?

I have 12 nieces and nephews between the ages of 2 and 18 and think they're all great. I really enjoy hanging out with them at family gatherings.

And then I go home. I'm satisfied with being an uncle for now - it really is a lot of work and if you're not prepared to give up a lot of your freedoms, you probably should think twice about having a child.

Wood Goblin wrote:Wow! Sounds like you're livin' it up there! I can see why you'd hate to have a shorty ruin your awesome rock star lifestyle!

Hehe. Best retort yet. Thanks for not calling me a fuckbag.

Goddamn, I have to visit Hyde Park again soon. I worked down there for a few years. Great bookstores. I might have to find a copy of this book for my pal busbus.

unsaved wrote:

Wood Goblin wrote:Wow! Sounds like you're livin' it up there! I can see why you'd hate to have a shorty ruin your awesome rock star lifestyle!

Hehe. Best retort yet. Thanks for not calling me a fuckbag.

Goddamn, I have to visit Hyde Park again soon. I worked down there for a few years. Great bookstores. I might have to find a copy of this book for my pal busbus.

Keep going, you seem to be enjoying your self.

Where you think I doubted your life choice, I have no idea. You made some crazy generalizations about parenting and I called you on it. Live your life your way, but expect a wrath of crap tossed your way when you try to doubt my choice of having a kid as being genuine and not full of regret.

I'd love to, but it depends on her, in the sense of being the right partner. I've only thought about it with a couple of women, really, but neither of those panned out. Oh well.

the$inmusicisallmine wrote:
look, it is clear that you hate your parents. because of that you don't want to be a parent. fine.

why do you have to piss on everybody who does not choose your path?

Actually, I get along just fine with the folks. I owe them thanks for helping me realize at an early age that I didn't want children by having an unplanned baby when I was 15. I got to see first hand for a few years all the work and money involved, and it made an impact.

As far as pissing on everybody who does not choose my path, I only do that with people of faith. All fools, even the liberal ones. Of course, with parents I don't go around on the street pointing at them saying, "you stupid breeder fuck, you've ruined your life, aaahahaha!" However, other people have no problem asking if I have kids and then telling me (and my wife, who, as a woman gets it worse) that choosing not to have children is selfish, evil, un-American, etc. Believe me, I've heard it all. There's even a game out there where one can mark off all the catchphrases, bullshit arguments and personal attacks.

tommydski wrote:
Actually, I'll adopt to make it a teeny-tiny bit less selfish. I don't want to prematurely Dawkins this thread but the fact that I find babies gross is most likely nature's way of telling me I shouldn't be in the gene pool.

I find babies and that whole birth thing gross as well, not my cup of tea, never has been. However, I agree, if I ever changed my mind I would adopt. Luckily my boyfriend is like minded in this decision.

But yeah, kids, big commitment that I commend others for taking, if done in a responsible manner.