cjbh wrote: » I know I'm going to sound like a black-hearted ogre when I say this, but I can't stand kids. I'm 26 and pretty sure I will never have them. I have nieces and nephews anyway so there is no pressure on me from my parents. I can never really understand why people, especially women, have kids. They are noisy and messy and time-consuming; they interfere with your sleep, your sex life, your freedom, your money... Just, ugh... Like Cameron Diaz said recently, the world is in no danger of going extinct. I often suspect a lot of women only have kids because they are forced into it by their husbands, or else the kids are mistakes. Any thoughts? I'm just being honest btw, no offence intended. It is a beautiful thing to see parents who genuinely love their children, I am just wondering how often this is really the case, and whether it really makes up for all the sacrifices they have to make, or whether people just convince themselves that it does
BlackandGold wrote: » My bf doesn't want kids. He's 29. I do [some day]. Yes they are messy, time consuming etc etc but why would anyone choose to have kids then if there weren't some good points? I think it'd be amazing [for a woman anyway!] to have the feeling of a baby growing inside you - a real little person for you to bring up!
cjbh wrote: » I know I'm going to sound like a black-hearted ogre when I say this, but I can't stand kids. I'm 26 and pretty sure I will never have them. I have nieces and nephews anyway so there is no pressure on me from my parents. I can never really understand why people, especially men, have kids. They are noisy and messy and time-consuming; they interfere with your sleep, your sex life, your freedom, your money... Just, ugh... Like Cameron Diaz said recently, the world is in no danger of going extinct. I often suspect a lot of men only have kids because they are forced into it by their wives, or else the kids are mistakes. Any thoughts? I'm just being honest btw, no offence intended. It is a beautiful thing to see parents who genuinely love their children, I am just wondering how often this is really the case, and whether it really makes up for all the sacrifices they have to make, or whether people just convince themselves that it does
Nolanger wrote: » Why would anyone have kids now in this sh*t country when there's no jobs and this recession will affect us for the next decade. And they're cutting the child benefit!
Rojomcdojo wrote: » If it's such an amazing feeling then why are pregnant women so narky?
chatterpillar wrote: » Why just men, as a matter of interest?
cjbh wrote: » Fair point. The reason I asked men specifically is because men do not have the same hormones as women. I imagine these female hormones play a large part in the biological urge that some women have to have children. The fact that men don't have this biological urge, and yet still often go on to have kids, makes it all the more curious to me.
Dilynnio wrote: » For all the guys that said they wud not have kids, would they donate their sperm to a couple who cant or want to have kids? They could still have a kid but not be part of their life. Just making it interesting!
cjbh wrote: » men do not have the same hormones as women.
TheInquisitor wrote: » I definitely want kids somewhere between 3 and 5. Genes continuing FTW
cjbh wrote: » I have seriously considered this. The only downside was that you have to make a 6 month weekly commitment to donating sperm to the clinic. It's not just a once off thing. I think all men are evolutionary programmed to want to 'spread their seed' and so extend their lineage. It's the actual raising of the kid that gets me. I just don't know how people put up with it. You could accuse me of being 'selfish', but it's not like we have to have children.
sam34 wrote: » well, im one of those seemingly rare women who know they dont want to have children. Ever. for a variety of reasons, it's not something i'm interested in. i'm the youngest in a large family and have watched all my siblings have kids, i've seen how their lives have completely changed, and not necessarily for the better. the never-ending, lifelong stress and responsibility of it is very off-putting for me. i get very fed up of people commenting on it.... my own mother has told me she thinks it's "unnatural", and smug parents comment about how i'll change my mind in a few years - "give it time, sure we all said that at one stage". this really infuriates me. firstly, i'm nearly 30 years old, old enough to be able to make a logical and well-thought-out decision. secondly, it's not a whim, it's something i've always felt. thirdly, just because they wanted children, doesn't mean i'm going to want them too. i'm certainly not going to have kids just because it's the "done thing". why people just cant respect that decision, the way they respected other major decisions i've made, is beyond me. but anyway, i'll continue to sow my wild oats and pray for a crop failure