4 ms·

So awesome, I hope to have kids one day precisely for this reason! One of my fondest memories is my dad quenching my curiosity (with a drawing, to boot!) of how

• monero-xmr 1y ago
  My kids learning to ride a bike - the moment you release your hand for the first time and they just go and go. When my son learned checkers, and then when he beat me the first time. When my daughter told her first original joke at a family dinner and everyone died laughing. The moments truly never stop. Every single day they amaze and surprise you, fill you with so much love and joy and appreciation. One time Bill Gates was asked what gave him joy and without missing a beat he said his children. Nothing is greater, nothing gives you more meaning, nothing is more ultimate than the sacrifice and patience and wonder and fulfillment of having children.
  • bombcar 1y ago
    There's a moment of abject horror, fascination, wonder, surprise, and pride when you suddenly recognize yourself in your children; a moment, a word, even just a holding of the head and you're staring into a mirror ...
    • monero-xmr 1y ago
      It is a complete shift in world view. In BC (before children) you lived one way, then in AD (after delivery) you live another. Complete and utter change in priorities, outlook, experience, meaning, fundamental shift that those without children cannot understand
      • doug713705 1y ago
        And people with children cannot understand what it is to live a whole life in full freedom. I'm over 50 years old and I fully love my life as it is and have never regretted my choice of not having children (and never will). Not that my choice is suitable for everybody, but the most common choice is not suitable for everybody either.
        • holoduke 1y ago
          I can understand. I have 4 small kids. The amount of freetime us near zero. I can sometimes envy your life
          • bombcar 1y ago
            As a fellow manyKid™ enjoyer I know what you mean. Even your "free time" is guided and directed by kids, and when you DO get some time alone with the wife or a good friend, you talk about the kids. It really is a change that's not quite possible to convey with words.
        • monero-xmr 1y ago
          Hard disagree, I lived my life without children, the hedonism and lack of responsibility. And you can live this until death. And I didn’t discount such a life in my writing. I stated that having children fundamentally changes you, in a way you will never understand
          • TheOtherHobbes 1y ago
            Given State of World, my take on it is there's far more hedonism and irresponsibility in having kids. It's nice they make you happy, but will their lives be happy? The evidence says it's very unlikely. My choice is not to inflict that experience on another sentient being. I'm really not seeing anything at the moment that encourages me to question that.
            • stinkbeetle 1y ago
              It will be "inflicted" on other people whether you choose it or not. People and cultures that don't want children will give way to those who do.
            • ptero 1y ago
              For a different perspective: the world today is not perfect, but when I compare the current state of the world with how our ancestors lived from the Roman empire to the last century I think my kids have a high chances to do much better than that average. My direct ancestors lived through some harrowing times without losing their will to live and if they were alive today they would likely feel this is a great time to be alive. My 2c.
    • vaxman 1y ago
      Do your kids have Social Security Numbers yet? Let's ask Elon to use his privileged mode on xAI to have it characterize their socio economic relations among all Americans that have existed since The Great Deal, shall we?
      • monero-xmr 1y ago
        To respond in such a moronic, unthinking, truly absurd and ridiculous way to such a beautiful comment is bizarre and unnecessary beyond human understanding
        • vaxman 1y ago
          ok Elon.
  • adonese 1y ago
    Thanks for this. We are expecting one in two months (our first), and reading this made me happy.
  • rubzah 1y ago
    Even Steve Jobs, who was by most accounts a pretty cold fish (his many other qualities notwithstanding), said something similar. By memory, he said something like: With your kids, it's as if they carry your heart around outside of your body. Which I found super touching and apt.
    • quadhome 1y ago
      "Making the decision to have a child - it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." -- Elizabeth Stone
• whatbutwhy 1y ago
  67