5 ms·

It's a lot of work. I think that's exacerbated by modern lifestyles. We're pulled in a thousand directions and we're less likely to live near relatives, which

It's a lot of work. I think that's exacerbated by modern lifestyles. We're pulled in a thousand directions and we're less likely to live near relatives, which means that the support systems are not there like they used to be. Kids demand you. Simple things like watching them playing is huge for them. If you try to understand what they're saying (already at a few months old), you'll be surprised to find it pretty cogent and clear. For example, in the article, the little boy was literally hitting his mother over the head to get her attention. But if you're not listening, you just get upset. I didn't become parent because I think it will selfishly make me happier. I became a parent because I felt I would have something to offer a child and I wanted to give expression to that.

yardie 16y ago
It's a lot of work, but not because of lifestyle. In reading the article you see that parents, now, spend more time with their kids than previous generations. But kids are coddled more than ever. Between shuttling them to school, soccer practice, and piano lessons it seems like the parents have decided to give themselves these tasks and are surprised! when they don't have anytime for do what they want. If anything I learned from the article it's these parents are wimps. The kid almost takes the father's eye out and the strongest punishment is a timeout?! The mother has to ask her son to do his homework?! I guess my family is old school, but throwing anything at my mom would have my ass on ice. And if she has to ask twice, that computer would be gone.
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]
gcheong 16y ago
"I didn't become parent because I think it will selfishly make me happier. I became a parent because I felt I would have something to offer a child and I wanted to give expression to that." This is an interesting point. Do you not feel that the expression of this desire will make you happier? Did you adopt your child? If not, then how is the creating of a human life in order for you to fulfill your desire to give what you have to offer to a child anything but selfish? Certainly there were kids that existed before that could have benefitted from your gifts. I don't mean to say you should not have had kids for this reason. I think anyone who desires to have a kid and has the means should do so but I don't see anything different in your desire than that of someone who simply wants kids.

yardie 16y ago

It's a lot of work, but not because of lifestyle. In reading the article you see that parents, now, spend more time with their kids than previous generations. But kids are coddled more than ever. Between shuttling them to school, soccer practice, and piano lessons it seems like the parents have decided to give themselves these tasks and are surprised! when they don't have anytime for do what they want. If anything I learned from the article it's these parents are wimps. The kid almost takes the father's eye out and the strongest punishment is a timeout?! The mother has to ask her son to do his homework?! I guess my family is old school, but throwing anything at my mom would have my ass on ice. And if she has to ask twice, that computer would be gone.

deleted 16y ago
[deleted]

gcheong 16y ago

"I didn't become parent because I think it will selfishly make me happier. I became a parent because I felt I would have something to offer a child and I wanted to give expression to that." This is an interesting point. Do you not feel that the expression of this desire will make you happier? Did you adopt your child? If not, then how is the creating of a human life in order for you to fulfill your desire to give what you have to offer to a child anything but selfish? Certainly there were kids that existed before that could have benefitted from your gifts. I don't mean to say you should not have had kids for this reason. I think anyone who desires to have a kid and has the means should do so but I don't see anything different in your desire than that of someone who simply wants kids.