Reproduce: yes or no?

[nissangirl74]

Cliff Notes: more and more married couples have decided NOT to have children, at all. I was wondering if any of you guys (and girls) have made the same decision, the opposite, or haven't decided. Most everyone on here is still within the age to make more if so desired. Just curious as to your viewpoint.

No wonder so many are choosing to spend their entire marriages as empty-nesters. A 2009 University of Denver study found that 90 percent of couples experienced a decrease in marital bliss after the birth of their first child. And in a 2007 Pew survey, just 41 percent of adults stated that children were very important for a successful marriage, down from 65 percent in 1990. Meanwhile, nearly one in five American women now ends her reproductive years without children, up from one in ten in the 1970s.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parentin ... m-2503225/

[Jesda]

No.

Hell no.

Going to the other side of the globe with my 8 and 9 year old brother and sister cemented it. No children for me. Ever.

[ADDirishboy]

Agreed. I'm not completely opposed to the thought of having kids, but I feel like life would be so much better without. You can travel and not have to worry about them, you can go out to dinner without finding a babysitter, you can do pretty much anything on a moments notice.

Call me selfish if you want. I'll agree to that.

[nissangirl74]

No.

Hell no.

Going to the other side of the globe with my 8 and 9 year old brother and sister cemented it. No children for me. Ever.

That makes me a bit sad. I think you would make an awesome dad. At least I think your kids would be awesome. They might drive you to become a domestic violence driven alcoholic though.

[nissangirl74]

There is nothing like holding your newborn child in your arms for the first time. It's an unbelievable feeling. However, when that said child becomes a teenager and tells you to go f*** yourself, it kind of makes you wonder why you thought parenthood was a good choice. I have no regrets and I love our children dearly. My life would be very empty without them. However, I do look forward to the years when Greg and I can come and go as we please and only have to worry about each other.

[ADDirishboy]

I could see myself having kids after I do some traveling and sight seeing and just hanging out with my future wife. Definitely not for a while. It all depends though on what she would want. I go back and forth on this all the time.

[Jesda]

There was one relationship that I was serious about a couple years ago, and I was open to the idea of kids because she was good with them. Unfortunately she was otherwise terrible at life. That's the other concern -- being able to trust a significant other enough to let her be the mom for my kids.


My friends are having kids now, and its nice to be able to put a child away after playing with it.

[themadscientist]

I'm a reluctant yes. I do not find children the least bit required and that whole magic of holding your child stuff sounds like a bunch of crap to me. Kids are f*** annoying to me most of the time. I do, however, wish to leave something behind and a well-raised child would be nice. I think I could be a good parent and we need as many smart kids as possible to keep us going as a species and it would be nice to give my stuff to someone other than the government when my oil pump fails.
I would like to have my own biological child, but I don't think I would care for an adopted child any less. If it doesn't work out for us I would be honored to be entrusted with an unwanted child who needs a fighting chance. Maybe I can give some squirt a head start on a good life of their own; spare em some of the mistakes I made. MadDad can take care of business and get you ready for the world kid. Watch, learn, and go out there and kick a** on your own terms!

[flohtingPoint]

With a 100% travel job and a 30-40 day race schedule each year, I dont have the time needed to be a proper parent even if I wanted to.

[Dattebayo]

America makes children bad for you marriage, IMO.

There is something about the way kids interact here that makes them that way... I don't see it in certain other countries. Maybe because it's more legal to smack 'em around a bit?

[Bubba1]

I think too many people are in a rush to have children at a young age. My wife and I waited several years. By waiting, we not only got our careers established, we found a home to grow into, fixed it the way we wanted, did a lotta travelling, saved up some money, and got to know each other even better before focusing on children.

The only downside to waiting is being a bit older as a grandparent, but when weighed against the advantages associated with waiting, and it makes delayed child raising a much easier undertaking

HAving children obviously changes your lifestyle. You may not have the same amount of time to devote to your current favorite hobbies, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. You'll find that you not only more appreciate each of the fewer times you do your hobby after having kids, you've also replaced the activity with even more wonderful stuff. I'm not saying changing a poopie diaper is more fun than whizzing around an autocross course, for example. But teaching your child a skill like riding a bicycle, taking them go-karting can certainly compete.

Raising kids is not all fun and games, and you certainly worry more as they progress thru their teens. I also learned gray hair is hereditary, you get it from your kids, but having them is absolutely worthwhile.

[IanS]

The short answer is yes. Its one he'll of a screwed up world out there, and its all the retards having kids and not teaching them right from wrong that's making things worse. I feel compelled to counter act that. Even if just a little.

[Kompresshun]

I never was much of a kid person, all the way up to when we had our first child. I just don't like holding other people's kids and a newborn does nothing for me, unlike most people who all have to hold the new baby. I have yet to hold my newest niece because I'm not interested.

Now that being said, being a parent has been the best thing in the world to me. I cried when Bethany was born and there simply was nothing like that feeling of holding MY child for the first time. Bethany is 1 1/2 yrs old now and we both get to spend a lot of time with her, she's an awesome baby and I have enjoyed being a father very much so far. I know there will be hard times as she gets older, but nobody ever said it would be easy, all you can do is be the best parent to them that you can.

I think some people aren't cut out for having children and that's fine, it's their business how they want to live their lives. We decided that we would wait 3-4 years before trying to have a child, which we did, then 4-5 to have the next one. We only plan on having 2 at the moment, but may also adopt a child as well down the road though.

[Ajax]

I voted no, but there's always that bit of my brain that wants the Schneider name to continue. My family has some interesting history, as I'm sure most people's do, and there's only one more male on the Schneider side. But then I realize that I won't even trust myself to get a pet- what business do I have with a kid?

[TroubleBound]

My friends are having kids now, and its nice to be able to put a child away after playing with it.

This. I love seeing my nieces and nephews they are so cute, but after a few hours im glad to walk away from their constant needs. My nephew can carry on the family name. Thats 18 years of my life i can enjoy instead. My sex ed teacher said average cost of raising a child to 18 is $180,000. No thanks.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Nope. Never. I'd be a terrible dad. I've seen how impatient I get with my brother (who is 13, less than half my age) who is also my best friend already feel like a d!ck a lot for it. As a dad I'd be a complete failure. I have trouble remembering that kids still don't know a lot of things. I have trouble remembering that stupidity and inexperience are not the same thing, and so my tolerance for both tends to be equally low.

Also, people are walking disasters these days, so unless I get spectacularly lucky I doubt I'll ever find a woman I'd feel comfortable having a baby with even if I DID want a kid.

[bigbadberry3]

I say no now. Kids are expensive, smelly, and loud. But if things change, no more than 2.

[Kompresshun]

Also, people are walking disasters these days, so unless I get spectacularly lucky I doubt I'll ever find a woman I'd feel comfortable having a baby with even if I DID want a kid.

^Agreed, trust me I had given up all hope in getting married until I met my wife. I was thoroughly convinced that all women where I lived were nut jobs, considering every single one of them I dated had some serious issues and were nowhere near what I was interested in spending the rest of my life with.

I always knew I wanted kids, even though I have a lot less patience with other kids, I felt like I would enjoy being a dad(which I do). It's not for everyone, but children can be great, plus eventually you can make them do all of the housework

Plus we look cool in sunglasses

[Jesda]

My friends are having kids now, and its nice to be able to put a child away after playing with it.

This. I love seeing my nieces and nephews they are so cute, but after a few hours im glad to walk away from their constant needs. My nephew can carry on the family name. Thats 18 years of my life i can enjoy instead. My sex ed teacher said average cost of raising a child to 18 is $180,000. No thanks.

Or in the case of Jesda's parents, you're stuck paying private tuition into his late 20s.

[frapjap]

Fuuuuck no. I'll voluntairly steralize myself before that happens. Its not so much that I'd suck at being a parent or that its so expensive, its more that the world we're living in is getting worse and worse and more and more aggrevating. I DO NOT want to raise a child in it. I get my fix from friends kids whom I can give back when they get done going out and drinking their sorrows away on Friday night.

Plus, jerking off in a bottle and paying to cryogenically store the expulsion for an undertimined amount of time is still cheaper and less stressful than having even one child. The bottle is only a precaution, though I don't think I'll every want to pass my genes on but in the case I ever have to or change my mind, at least the option is there. Plus, I have two brothers to continue the blood line.

[alms24sebring]

life ruiners.. Where's the vote for f*** no? but I guess a simple no works just as well.

Jesda has it exactly right. "Aww its so cuuute. Well, back to mommy you go"

[dre1507]

The short answer is yes. Its one he'll of a screwed up world out there, and its all the retards having kids and not teaching them right from wrong that's making things worse. I feel compelled to counter act that. Even if just a little.

Yes, Ian. You have gained +1 million rep in my book. My plan is to have whomever my future is, push out and or have sliced out of her, 10 of them. We plan to do an amazing job raising ALL of them. Ian, you have the head start of my plan to counteract the almost hereditary disease of idiocy. Do an amazing job til i show up. Ok?

[Bubba1]

Yes, Ian. You have gained +1 million rep in my book. My plan is to have whomever my future is, push out and or have sliced out of her, 10 of them. We plan to do an amazing job raising ALL of them. Ian, you have the head start of my plan to counteract the almost hereditary disease of idiocy. Do an amazing job til i show up. Ok?

Right, someone's at least gotta negate then stench of Nala, the poster child for birth control.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

I personally can't children younger than 5 so...that'd be a no.

[dre1507]

Yes, Ian. You have gained +1 million rep in my book. My plan is to have whomever my future is, push out and or have sliced out of her, 10 of them. We plan to do an amazing job raising ALL of them. Ian, you have the head start of my plan to counteract the almost hereditary disease of idiocy. Do an amazing job til i show up. Ok?

Right, someone's at least gotta negate then stench of Nala, the poster child for birth control.

Lol. i saw a Nala look-a-like today, in a similarly sized SUV. looked like a Ford. Scared me for a second there.

[alms24sebring]

lol, he's on the prowl across the US

[Jesda]

I feel compelled to counter act that. Even if just a little.

Wouldn't it be more cost effective to set a Chuck E Cheese on fire?

[Oatmealman]

Nope i would like to have kids but i refuse too.I've been a smoker for too long and too much and i worry if i had kids theyd be 10 and i'd kick the bucket which is not what i want for my kids.

I would want my kids to grow up with a dad to come back too when they where 15-20 and struggling with something and I know that if i ever had kids I'd die before i really got the chance to teach them about wrenching,not to smoke,and to be a good person in general and really help people out.

[dre1507]

quit smoking?

[maxhopper]

I voted yes because I already have a daughter. But I do not plan on having any more, and not because of my daughter - she's awesome. I just don't wish to temp fate.