I think if my 12-year-old son was worried about the consequences of having children, I would get a little nervous about what had been going on between him and his girlfriend. (In real life, my son didn’t have a girlfriend when he was 12 years old.)
I think all schools should have some type of class in high school about “parenting”. Not everyone is meant to have kids. I knew when I was very young that I did not ever want to be a mom. People chuckled when I told them, and I got the “oh you’ll change your mind” look. But at 21 I had my tubes tied to insure I never got pregnant. I’m 61 now and never regretted that decision.
“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, navigate a ship, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
The eternal question for any new undertaking, but most especially for newlyweds. But there is no handbook for having children. It is all first-hand experience.
It was either Ann Landers or her sister Abigail Van Buren who took a poll of empty nest parents asking if they would do it over again. A majority responded that if given the choice they would decline to have children in the first place.
There was a story about a GI that had a medical appointment, and told his sergeant not to tell anyone, but he was going to have a vasectomy. You can guess how that turned out! He was really popular with the WACs until his rotation to another base and then several PGs showed up!
Taking this conversation in another direction….Maybe it’s just me but isn’t this kid too big to be still wearing diapers. What is he 21/2 already??! Bleah!!!! that’s like grown-up poo.
@wellis1947: I can’t downgrade any book or author just because its original premise later proved ‘less practical’ over time than I would like.
You read the book. You try to apply its tenets to your situation. If it does not seem to work, you adjust your application and retry. If that doesn’t work, you move on to another strategy.
Well meant advice is like the gift of a hat. If it fits you wear it; if not, you don’t. But you always appreciate the thought behind it.
Templo S.U.D. about 6 years ago
wow, that’s a thinker
howtheduck about 6 years ago
I think if my 12-year-old son was worried about the consequences of having children, I would get a little nervous about what had been going on between him and his girlfriend. (In real life, my son didn’t have a girlfriend when he was 12 years old.)
Kim Metzger Premium Member about 6 years ago
If they did know, we’d have zero population growth.
Lecherous about 6 years ago
I did not date for years when I thought about children. Today, I wish I had more. Ironic, no?
Rosette about 6 years ago
Spoiler alert
ElaineFisherManning about 6 years ago
I think all schools should have some type of class in high school about “parenting”. Not everyone is meant to have kids. I knew when I was very young that I did not ever want to be a mom. People chuckled when I told them, and I got the “oh you’ll change your mind” look. But at 21 I had my tubes tied to insure I never got pregnant. I’m 61 now and never regretted that decision.
USN1977 about 6 years ago
“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, navigate a ship, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
-Robert A. Heinlein
sandpiper about 6 years ago
The eternal question for any new undertaking, but most especially for newlyweds. But there is no handbook for having children. It is all first-hand experience.
Linguist about 6 years ago
Kids ! When I found out what caused ’em, I got it fixed !
BiathlonNut about 6 years ago
It was either Ann Landers or her sister Abigail Van Buren who took a poll of empty nest parents asking if they would do it over again. A majority responded that if given the choice they would decline to have children in the first place.
JudyHendrickson about 6 years ago
I’ll bet m ichael won’t want kids afterthis!!!
tuslog1964 about 6 years ago
There was a story about a GI that had a medical appointment, and told his sergeant not to tell anyone, but he was going to have a vasectomy. You can guess how that turned out! He was really popular with the WACs until his rotation to another base and then several PGs showed up!
Durak Premium Member about 6 years ago
Michael, some think they do. They’re wrong.
barister about 6 years ago
Taking this conversation in another direction….Maybe it’s just me but isn’t this kid too big to be still wearing diapers. What is he 21/2 already??! Bleah!!!! that’s like grown-up poo.
Mijo94 about 6 years ago
No Micheal, I dont think so.
Mijo94 about 6 years ago
No Micheal, I dont think so.
sandpiper about 6 years ago
@wellis1947: I can’t downgrade any book or author just because its original premise later proved ‘less practical’ over time than I would like.
You read the book. You try to apply its tenets to your situation. If it does not seem to work, you adjust your application and retry. If that doesn’t work, you move on to another strategy.
Well meant advice is like the gift of a hat. If it fits you wear it; if not, you don’t. But you always appreciate the thought behind it.
lilrabbit about 6 years ago
Fortunately for our species, not so fortunately for our planet, we tend to have children before we have enough wisdom to refrain from having them.