dyhppy

do you parents ever wonder what life would have been like if you hadn't had kids? do you know any people who chose not to have kids and are happy?

thebig33tuna

yes. they have two dogs they are a bit obsessed with.

rbackhouse

No I don't ever wonder. Not much point as I'm happy to have my two kids and they give me joy ever day.

Two of my friends are very happy, married and childless (One friend is in his 40's and the other in his 50's). I totally respect their decisions not to have kids.

GPMike

Kids are never a mistake. The parents in some cases....well that is a different story.

hammerhead300

Honestly, that's what I'm shooting for. I'm only 24, but having children is nowhere on my radar. Everybody tells me that that'll change before long, but I don't see that happening.

I've had this debate with someone on this forum before (whose name I will withhold) and I just don't see a wife and kids in my future. Everyone has their own idea of happiness, and mine happens to be different from that of most people.

dyhppy

as much fun as "to each his own" arguments are, can someone offer specific reasons why one choice is better for them and the other not?

beanseff

i'm only 24 and i thought the same way you do, but that was almost four years ago, i'm not going to say my first one was a mistake, but i was home on leave and well you know what happened, it changes you alot, and for me, it changed me for the better
i'm not saying go out and knock a girl up, but it will cross your mind one day

[DT]

Yeah, I sold a couple of companies, had a blast, raised hell, traveled, umm, "consumed", and didn't marry until I was 36 and we had our first (and likely only) amazing, beautiful baby girl just last year (she turned 1 this March, and I turned 43).

Ours was incredibly planned and a well thought out joint venture No regrets because it's exactly what we wanted. Even well into my 30's I didn't consider children. Now we're getting to re-experience everything with a little one and it's pretty amazing.

wraith5

Now ain't that the truth.

I will be doing child and family therapy in a few months and working with certain parents will be dreadful.

Angelus1243

Like hammerhead, I'm only 24 but having children is also nowhere in my future plans. I decided a few years ago that I'm just not the parenting type. I don't even like dealing with all the bs when raising a puppy, so why would I put myself through even more with a child? And as "selfish" as some ppl say it is, I would rather spend my hard earned money on ME. I work damn hard for my money, I may as well spend it on toys for me. And if I feel I'm too immature/selfish/stupid to raise a child well, wouldn't it be MORE selfish of me to bring a child into this world?

A lot of ppl say I'll change my mind someday, god I hope they're wrong.