4 ms·

Be careful - there is no undo button. A lot of us on the other side encouraging you to have kids can be explained by an old adage..."misery loves company". YMMV

Be careful - there is no undo button. A lot of us on the other side encouraging you to have kids can be explained by an old adage..."misery loves company". YMMV.

sulam 8y ago
Speaking as someone with two kids, they're a LOT of work. They have measurably decreased my lifespan (if nothing else, they do that simply from the reduction in sleep quality). I happily tell people not to have kids. Of course, the ones that should have kids ignore me completely. :)
52-6F-62 8y ago
Heheh. I don't mind that so much. But I think I've done a good job of convincing myself that there's a certain baseline condition I'd like to be in to start seriously considering it. We've sadly even waffled enough on getting a dog for, a) Financial reasons. If we can't take the dog to the office, then we would end up paying the few hundred dollars a month or whatever people charge around here to walk them. (one of my colleagues pays ~$400/month! He must be paid substantially more than I am...) b) Time. Again, if we can't take it with us then we get a little time after work and some weekends. c) Space. Living in an apartment feels kind of unfair to the dog. I don't know how some people live in these buildings with a couple of mastiffs or whatever. Just outlining that felt kind of sad. And if we can't settle on figuring that out yet, then children are further off than I'd like.
- fosco 8y ago
  having a kid will never come at a convenient time. idiocracy is real. be doggy grandparents (wife and I prefer this over owning), they are distracting to own and more travel prohibitive than kids.
  - 52-6F-62 8y ago
    I hear you, but I think we're different people in that way. I grew up with dogs— I need a dog. I just can't go for it if I know the situation wouldn't work well for the dog.
- magduf 8y ago
  Don't get a dog. Honestly, I think having a kid is better than getting a dog. With a kid, there's a pretty good chance that it's going to grow up at some point and be able to use the bathroom on its own (within a few years), feed itself, clean up after itself, and eventually move out of the house. With a dog, this never happens: you're constantly going to be taking care of it like it's a 2-year-old. You'll have to walk it every day, pick up its hot, steaming shit piles with a thin plastic bag in your hand (or else get huge fines from your HOA/condo), smell its nasty breath, deal with fleas (you have to take it outside for walks remember), hire pet-sitters if you're gone for even one night, etc. Dogs are an enormous hassle, especially in a city. I have no idea why so many people want them. If you want an animal companion in a city dwelling, get a cat. They don't need to be walked, they don't eat much (compared to large dogs), they can use the bathroom on their own (tip: get a Litter-Robot automated litter box), they don't need to be bathed or groomed, they don't stink, and they don't mind living in an apartment full-time.

Be careful - there is no undo button. A lot of us on the other side encouraging you to have kids can be explained by an old adage..."misery loves company". YMMV.

sulam 8y ago

Speaking as someone with two kids, they're a LOT of work. They have measurably decreased my lifespan (if nothing else, they do that simply from the reduction in sleep quality). I happily tell people not to have kids. Of course, the ones that should have kids ignore me completely. :)

52-6F-62 8y ago

Heheh. I don't mind that so much. But I think I've done a good job of convincing myself that there's a certain baseline condition I'd like to be in to start seriously considering it. We've sadly even waffled enough on getting a dog for, a) Financial reasons. If we can't take the dog to the office, then we would end up paying the few hundred dollars a month or whatever people charge around here to walk them. (one of my colleagues pays ~$400/month! He must be paid substantially more than I am...) b) Time. Again, if we can't take it with us then we get a little time after work and some weekends. c) Space. Living in an apartment feels kind of unfair to the dog. I don't know how some people live in these buildings with a couple of mastiffs or whatever. Just outlining that felt kind of sad. And if we can't settle on figuring that out yet, then children are further off than I'd like.

fosco 8y ago
having a kid will never come at a convenient time. idiocracy is real. be doggy grandparents (wife and I prefer this over owning), they are distracting to own and more travel prohibitive than kids.
- 52-6F-62 8y ago
  I hear you, but I think we're different people in that way. I grew up with dogs— I need a dog. I just can't go for it if I know the situation wouldn't work well for the dog.
magduf 8y ago
Don't get a dog. Honestly, I think having a kid is better than getting a dog. With a kid, there's a pretty good chance that it's going to grow up at some point and be able to use the bathroom on its own (within a few years), feed itself, clean up after itself, and eventually move out of the house. With a dog, this never happens: you're constantly going to be taking care of it like it's a 2-year-old. You'll have to walk it every day, pick up its hot, steaming shit piles with a thin plastic bag in your hand (or else get huge fines from your HOA/condo), smell its nasty breath, deal with fleas (you have to take it outside for walks remember), hire pet-sitters if you're gone for even one night, etc. Dogs are an enormous hassle, especially in a city. I have no idea why so many people want them. If you want an animal companion in a city dwelling, get a cat. They don't need to be walked, they don't eat much (compared to large dogs), they can use the bathroom on their own (tip: get a Litter-Robot automated litter box), they don't need to be bathed or groomed, they don't stink, and they don't mind living in an apartment full-time.