Why Would Anyone Have Kids?

[Rhyfelwyr]

Took me a while to realise the thread date. It was surreal watching Tribesman reply so civily to PJ, without uttering the word bollox once!

Since PJ's still around, I'll give my thoughts on the OP. At first I would have been very much against having kids, but now I'm not so sure, I'm not the type of person that is going to want to travel the world or use my cash to live in luxury instead. Anyway, I don't think it's as bad as the OP makes out.

1. They are an extreme responsibility. You have to care for them ALWAYS. They arent like a car you can put in the garage - no matter how sick or tire you are, you always have to be there for them.

Not meaning to troll but didn't women used to care for kids themselves? I don't see how it can be a full time job for two parents (awaits massive flaming), I think there is a lot of nonsense these days like when dads are supposed to sit and play with their kids before they can walk.

2. Their trouble is your trouble. If your kid causes damage, you have to pay for it. If your kid commits a crime, your also at fault.

How often do most kids get into any sort of serious trouble? Most of the time when kids to get into trouble they have the kind of parents that dont' care much anyway. The worst things I've done are just stupid things like smashing a window with a football or something.

3. Teenage hatred. I didnt go through this, but it seems like most kids do. Parents spend all that time loving and caring for their kids, then when they get to a certain age the parents become the enemy. I cant count the times i saw some of my friends being complete jackasses because their parents didnt give them what the wanted.

I didn't do the whole teenage rebellion thing either, I think that only happens when parents don't get the right balance when they need to give their kids more independence. I got no independence (from about 12+, actually got plenty before then, but my mum had problems with stress, half the staff at her work have taken fullblown nervous brakedowns), but just spent my time gaming so it wasn't an issue. My brother though rebelled a lot, eventually he got his way, and now the youngest brother gets independence, and people get on fine mostly.

4. Drugs, Alcohol, and Sex. So many awkward conversations.. so many chances for addictions or unwanted pregnancy!

My parents never said anything to me of these things (praise the Lord!), and I never got involved in any of them, even now when I have independence to do what I like. Alcohol was a problem for some of my friends, leading to suspensions and explusion from school for one guy, but by that age it was clear where they were going with life so not really their parents problem much anyway.

5. Modern expectations. These days it seems like if parents dont buy their kids what the other kids have, they are the bad guys! Kids dont take into account that maybe daddy doesnt make as much as other daddies..

Only the really spoilt brats are like that, upper-middle class types etc, and even then I would think they are still the minority. My brothers go to a private school, which I went to for a while, but they both accept that we're not as well off as most other people there and can't get all the latest stuff. And no chance of a car for a birthday.

You really could tell the difference though between the really rich ones and the ones that got in on the cheap (due to involvement in the military, there's a massive naval base nearby). Most kids aren't spoilt brats.

6. The cost. (This is the clincher) Do parents realize just how much money they devote to their kids? These days you're expected to buy the Xbox, the car at 16, and all the other assorted crap. Then when they get ready for college, youre supposed to magically come up with tens of thousands of dollars!

Living in Scotland I get free university education. :biggrin:

Plus I never got assorted crap, I don't have a mobile or an ipod or CD's or fancy clothes (actually my parents tell me I look like a tramp). I never purchased anything beyond 50 quid probably before I got my student loan, then I got a PS3.

Although maybe you should see it as an investment, they can afford more to put you in a nicer care home when you are older, which you couldn't have afforded yourself.