Married, without children: Finding fulfillment with no kids

Rocky Mountain News ^ | 1/3/05 | Mark Wolf

[Durus]

Are you suggesting that the primary reason to have children is that you will have someone to take care of you when you grow old?

Speaking of selfish motivations.

[1Old Pro]

Hang in there. I didn't get married until my 40's. Some of my friends have babies, some kids are entering college, some don't have kids.

We all still get along. tHE BOTTOM LINE OF THIS STORY IS MORE SIMPLE AND CAN BE GENERALIZED....PEOPLE GENERLLY SPEND MORE TIME WITH PEOPLE SIMILAR TO THEMSELVES, FOR MANY REASONS. iT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T HAVE FRIENDS WHO MIGHT BE LITTLE DIFERENT, HECK i HAVE MILLUIONARE FRIENDS AND FRIENDS SHO HAVE NO MONEY.

[1Old Pro]

Are you suggesting that the primary reason to have children is that you will have someone to take care of you when you grow old? Speaking of selfish motivations.

yEP, i READ INTO THAT AS WELL.

[cyborg]

Last time I hung out with career types was in college. Plus I live in New York so maybe it's different.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Mrs. Slim and I have no kids.

[retrokitten]

I never get that either. Whenever there is an article like this there are tons of posts calling people who don't want kids selfish. Isn't it more selfish to have kids just for the sake of having kids?

My extremely liberal sister in-law (a teacher) and brother are trying to have a baby. My cousin asked her if she was going to keep working after she has a baby and my sister in-laws response was, "Of course! I can't lose my tenure!" THAT is selfish!

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

No wonder they didn't have kids. They're too damned self-centered!

Do you think everyone should have children, regardless of their ability to raise them?

Knowing ahead of time that you are unsuitable as a parent is not being selfish. It's being enlightened.

[Aquinasfan]

isn't it more selfish to have children that you don't want?

Many parents don't want children. Yet I've never met anyone who wanted to give his child back.

God is smarter than we are.

[cyborg]

Awwww you should have.

[P.O.E.]

"It doesn't occur to anybody to celebrate a child-free woman in that way."

Because the celebration is about the baby, not about your "choices".

[Sam Cree]

Why does this article remind me of the ones that celebrate obesity?

[Future Snake Eater]

"I believe there's a problem with population, serious issues with the environment, and I believe I have to be part of the solution."

You're absolutely right, Ms. Wenker. Here you go, help us out some more with those "issues."

Thanks!

[Luther_Right_or_Wrong]

Luther: "Children are the blessed fruit of marriage. They are the best wool of the sheep."

I would add - Grandchildren are even better.

[KevinDavis]

Unfortunately my wife is somewhat happy for us to be DINKS
:( ... That said I do vote Republican..

[Tijeras_Slim]

We're not kid people.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

Some people should not have children.

I agree. I heard "if I didn't have you kids..." too many times as a child. It's far more selfish to have children and make them feel like they are burdens to you than it is to make a conscious choice not to have them at all.

[Ellesu]

True, but why should they have some award for their decision? I respect anyone's decision to remain childless, but don't be envious of those who do and have baby showers.

"It doesn't occur to anybody to celebrate a child-free woman in that way."

[Gershkies]

No family connection is right. Nothing like chopping down the family tree or turning it into sticks with no leaves!!

[Tax-chick]

Nice gun!

[Blue Jays]

Hi All-

These people shouldn't be criticized, they should be applauded for not having children. It is much better that they stated their true feelings on the topic, rather than adhering to societal pressures and having kids anyway. If these were inner-city, low-income people being interviewed for the article, we would say how brave they are for breaking the cycle of welfare dependence.

I know of young couples (with children) who aren't mature enough to properly take care of themselves, much less their offspring. These kids arrived due (in part) to relentless pressure from their parents. Too bad they couldn't just say, "No!"

~ Blue Jays ~