What about children?

I personally love kids, and the thing I'm most looking forward to in life is having a child (several, if truth be told).

I tend to be surrounded by people who love children as well; my best friend, for example, is in nursing school and hopes to work in pediatrics once she graduates.

That being said, these forums contain considerably different demographics from what I'm used to... So what do you guys think about kids? Do you want them? Are you indifferent? Do you have a particular child in your life that you pal around with? I'm penpals with an 8-year-old girl from my home town, and I frequently babysit two 3 1/2-year-old twin girls.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Arkhangelsk

Disneyland has not helped my attitude towards kids: there were so many double-wide strollers, nose-picking 4-year-olds and pregnant women padding around the place that it just disgusted me to no end with the whole child-bearing thing.

I really can't stand kids in big groups... I shudder to picture the swarms at Disneyland, as well...

I would never, ever be a teacher... I think I might kill them all!

Originally Posted by NYRSkate

With a thread title like this, I'm surprised Sir VG hasn't shown up yet.

I'm really nervous to ask what that means...

Originally Posted by Sassafrass

But yea, I want a shitload. I know, I know. I hate kids. But like I said - other peoples' kids. They always seem so HORRIFICALLY misbehaved. I plan to run a tight fucking ship.

ME. FRIGGIN. TOO. I really have trouble coping with other people's kids sometimes because I'm thinking "no, no, you're doing it all wrong; look how they're turning out!" Like the twin girls I watch? They watch an average of 3+ movies a day. We're talking full-length movies. I do NOT approve... Any tv before the age of 3, in fact, can put a child at risk for developmental delays, and they have lived their entire lives in front of the tube. Wow, rant.

But yes, I also run a tight ship. Those kids of mine best behave or they're gonna get a whoopin'!

Originally Posted by The Dopefish

Of course, I'm in school and going to stay in school, and I'm not with a girlfriend, so logistically, producing a child and economically supporting a child are not likely.

Stranger things have happened...

Originally Posted by SemperFidelis

I love kids, hate babies, especially the inconsolable crying all the time ones. Does that make sense lol?

Babies definitely take some getting used to... I'm not fully comfortable with them yet, to be sure. They're pretty nervewracking; I prefer ages 2 and up...

Originally Posted by starslight

I don't ever want kids. To me, it's the greatest responsibility there is and I wouldn't trust myself to raise a child properly. Every little thing a parent does affects their child(ren) in some way, and I'd be scared to death of screwing them up for life.

There is always that danger... and yeah, I guess that when you come down to it, EVERY child "messes up" their kid in some way. I'm sure my parents have had some negative affects on me... in fact, I could possibly name a few. But you know, you actually sound like you might be a pretty good parents, because you've realized that it's the greatest responsibility there is, and you wouldn't be nonchalant and careless about raising children, as is so common nowadays. Probably not trusting yourself to raise a child is one of the signs that you may be capable. Does that make sense?

Originally Posted by PiccoloNamek

I would be lying if I said I am not little jealous when I see the families at my church interacting together.

Me too... whenever I see a family together... or hear of another one of my friends getting married... or see my cousin's baby boy... it just makes me all the more impatient to get on with my life and start a family of my own. Most people want sex without the drag of pregnancy... I want pregnancy without the drag of sex. I mean, geez, it's gonna take a long time to find someone I want to marry, be with them a while, get engaged and married, live alone a couple of years... it'll be a while, and I'm not known for my patience.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by RABicle

I'm studying to become a primary school teacher.

I love kids and I look forward to becoming a father.

Now that's what I'm talking about!

Any grade in particular that you're interested in?

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Decoy Goat

And what girl wouldn't be turned on by somebody talking like an alien rapist intent on crossbreeding with her species.

THE VESSEL IS ESCAPING.

This made me laugh a lot. And think... yeah, I'm not sure how hot I'd be on being called a "vessel."

Originally Posted by valiant

I don't think I will live long enough to get kids anyway.

Planning on dying REALLY early? And why/how?

I figure I could die relatively early, which puts a bit of a damper on the whole having kids thing... I wouldn't want them to be teenagers and mom-less.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Chibi Neko

When it comes to kids, I am adoptiong. There is no way that I am going to carry one when there are things about my gene pool that I do not want passed down... plus the way I look at it is why should I make a child when there are already children in the world with no homes or families?

I am in my twenties and I really do not want a kid now. There are things in life I want to do first before I have to give up my freedom to raise a kid. Knowing me I will begin the adoption process for a little girl from China in my mid or late 30's and married.

I definitely approve of that! When I was younger, I said I would adopt just because I was so terrified of the birthing process. Now that I'm older... I'm STILL terrified of the birthing process. But regardless, I've decided I want some of my own kids, because... I dunno, just something about creating a human being with someone you love and grow old with. Something about seeing you in another person. It's like you, but better--or at least has the potential to be better. I guess it's kind of selfish, if you think about it.

Though, as you said, there are things in my gene pool I'm not anxious to have passed on.

I was speaking idiomatically.