Do you want kids? (Parents: how did you decide to have kids?)

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No. I am married but do not want to have kids. My wife does not either.

Having pets >>>>>> Kids.

If we ever do decide to have a kid, we would adopt. We would not do it the old fashion pregnancy way. It's irresponsible nowadays.
 
I'm 35 and have no interest in having children (and never have). My girlfriend is 26 and she wants them even less -- in fact, her biggest fear is accidental pregnancy, pretty much.

In my case, I'm in a position financially where having kids would be relatively easy (low six-figure salary, own a house, only minimal debt), but I just don't feel any urge to do so. Since my sister and her boyfriend are also committed child-free people, my parents' genetic line will effectively end with us (for better or worse).
 
personally i'd rather adopt, i have some bad genes that i don't want my kids to have to deal with, but if my lady really wants one of her own then i cant deny her that
 
Both my wife and I do not feel like we want a child. We enjoy our freedom way too much. We like sleep and peace and quiet. We also like things clean and smelling nice, all things you probably give up when you have a child.

Honestly, everyone saying "it's the best thing ever!!!" or "once you get one, you will understand", I doubt it.

You think it's the best thing ever because if you say anything different, people look at you like you're Hitler. How can it be the best thing ever? It can be AT MOST tolerable.
 
"At least one, at most two," was what I would say when I was pregnant with our first. I no longer have a choice in a second pregnancy since I had to have an emergency hysterectomy and with our current finances being what they are, I do not see adoption as realistically happening in our future.

I have a baby girl who's 14 months old, and I cherish her.
 
Never.

The world is too much of a horrible place. If something bad happened to my child, I could never live with myself again.
 
BramVD said:
Both my wife and I do not feel like we want a child. We enjoy our freedom way too much. We like sleep and peace and quiet. We also like things clean and smelling nice, all things you probably give up when you have a child.

Honestly, everyone saying "it's the best thing ever!!!" or "once you get one, you will understand", I doubt it.

You think it's the best thing ever because if you say anything different, people look at you like you're Hitler. How can it be the best thing ever? It can be AT MOST tolerable.
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Sleep, peace, quiet, clean and smelling nice are 5 things you will NEVER have when you have a kid. You pretty much have to give up on ALL of those things. Hey, if it's not for you, it's not for you. No need to feel pressure from anyone. But you should really have kids man. They're the best thing ever.
 
We were married a few years and it just felt right I guess. We owned our own home, finances were stable and we both felt we were ready to become parents.

2 boys now , aged 4 and 6. I spend half my time worrying about what their future might hold and the other hand looking at them wondering how I had a hand in making these 2 awesome little dudes.

Gotta enjoy it before they grow up and spend their teens thinking I'm an arsehole :)
 
It's good for some people, really grounds them and gives them perspective, but I don't think it's something I need in my life. My wife and I are happy as we are, and having a child would only infringe on our freedom.
 
I go back and forth on the issue sometimes in my head, but I think I'm happy with it just being my wife and I.
 
31 with two kids. How did we decide? Well, my wife and I saw the first 10 minutes of Idiocracy.
j/k we both always wanted a family.

I have a lot of childless Facebook contacts, and I'm a little annoyed by how frequently they needlessly defend their choice on Facebook with sarcastic posts and memes ridiculing parents. Honestly, if your family keeps pestering you about having kids, take it up with them. Don't act like you're some enlightened victim. Studies show your odds of happiness are the same with or without kids, so do what you gotta do. I'll stop posting pics of my kids when you stop posting pics of colorful drinks, fancy meals, and group bar shots.
 
I used to quail at the thought of being a father. Fear of failure loomed large and my own parents were so wonderful I felt I could never live up to it.

Always thought I'd be a superb Grandad though.

We have three children, all grown up and left home now, and I don't feel any more good or competent a father than I did before - but it worked somehow, as all three are nice, smart, fun people and good company. Must have done something right then. Plus a lot of hard work and fun on the way.

It's a huge step into the unknown for sure. But worth taking.
 
We have three, they're amazing and do and say something awesome every day. My wife and I decided early on we wanted three, two girls and a boy. We ended up with two boys and a girl but that is obviously not a big deal. We waited quite a while, 7 years after marriage and had some fun times but as others have stated I kinda wish we started just a couple years earlier. Our youngest well be 18 when we are both 55 so I guess that's not too bad.
 
I have a lot of family/friends with kids, and while they all love their kids to death, a lot of them say their life is a lot harder now. Can't really say they are happier now than when they were without kids.
 
I don't think I'd be a good parent, and I'm not a big kid person. On top of that, I also don't ever see myself being able to be in a normal relationship.

So, I doubt I'll ever have kids. Nor do I think I really want to have any.

My life is too much of a mess to put it on a kid.
 
21 and I never want children.

I just don't think I'm very parentish. Its one thing to interact with kids but its another thing entirely to have them and I don't think I'll ever be ready to have them considering I never enjoy interacting with them. I don't find them cute or appealing in the slightest and nothing about parenting sounds enjoyable at all either.

Cats are cool though.
 
MIMIC said:
I want kids....and my parents have started to hound me about having kids recently, lol. I'm 28.

My mom: "When you gonna give me some grand babies?"

Honestly, having kids scares me....but I absolutely want them.
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Yeah same here, well I actually havent really wanted kids but I'm coming around to the idea lately when I see my nephews and nieces.

But having a parent nag at you to be a parent, not great.
 
I'm leaning towards no at the moment but I'll probably have one or two down the line. My family has had some amazing assets that I'd prefer to stay in the family after I'm gone.
 
24, and yes. More than anything in the world. I can't wait to have the chance and I can only hope I'm lucky enough to get one. I mean, there's definitely plenty that scares me about the idea, but I know it's something that I'll regret forever if I don't.

That aside, despite me knowing that it would be tons of hard work, it just seems like something that would be worth it a million times over to me. Like, god, just seeing what type of people they end up becoming and doing my best to help them succeed at whatever it is they end up liking and wanting to do... god, it really does all sound great to me. Especially the really fun bits while they last, like pretending to be Santa. I could only imagine that I'd have a harder time sleeping on Christmas Eve than they would. xD And even stuff like just playing (video) games/sports with them, however ling that lasts until they start wanting nothing to do with me or whatever.

So yeah, definitely. God, if I could have say 3 or 4 of them I'd die a very, very happy man~ :D
 
I don't know...

I'm 35, girlfriend is 38. We're very happy together and neither of us wants kids, but I do wonder if I'll regret it in 10 years. But if we do, please please just one!
 
I'm not going to say I'll never want them, but I certainly don't right now and I don't really see any reason why I would change my mind. I don't even particularly want a partner so kids aren't on the agenda.

I know it's completely different but I feel like having nephews kind of fills that desire in my life. I get to be the cool uncle who teaches them stuff and has fun but also get to pull the "they're not my kids" card if I get tired.

Being a parent would destroy my sanity anyway. I'd be over protective and never stop worrying.
 
I am 31 now. No kids yet. I haven't even really secured a career yet, at least in my mind. There are a lot of things I would like to do before having a kid, like getting a better job, bigger house, etc., but I guess there just isn't a perfect time to have one. I go back and forth on it, to be honest. Some days I wouldn't mind having a kid, but on other days I just want to park my ass on the couch and do nothing but watch tv.

SugarDave said:
I know it's completely different but I feel like having nephews kind of fills that desire in my life. I get to be the cool uncle who teaches them stuff and has fun but also get to pull the "they're not my kids" card if I get tired.
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Whenever I am around my nieces it is nice to get away if I get tired playing with them or if they have a sudden temper tantrum. I guess if they are yours it is an entirely different perspective though. After having a puppy, I thought that was exhausting. I can't imagine how hard it is to have a newborn.
 
Rhomega Beta said:
28, don't want any. Don't want to get married either. The less responsibilities and stress, the better.
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Marriage is more than stress, but it is a responsibility. I'm going to sound like Bulbo with kids, but I love being married. It's amazing. Marriage is a beautiful thing and well worth your time with the right person.
 
Maybe. Just got engaged so I can't imagine it would be soon if ever. We're both kinda "meh" on the whole thing.

We both like our sleep. And freedom. And nice things.

Plus we each have a dog.
 
I'm not sure. I keep going back and forth. I want to carry on my lineage. However, I don't want to raise kids. I find them to be very draining.

Edit: I'm 31.
 
Couple more questions for Parent-Age--

when your kid(s) act out, does it frustrate you or are you able to kind of just laugh at it in a loving way?

--and for Single-Age--

would you ever consider having a kid while you're still single, i.e. adopting as a single parent?
 
I want kids, but only if I know I can afford to give them a proper upbringing and that they won't bankrupt me in kind.
 
Gouty said:
I was eating a burger today next to a window. I watched two men, each carrying a child, get into their vehicle and leave. What probably takes me 30 seconds tops, took the the 4 of them around 5 minutes. I can't imagine living a life where every action becomes a time consuming, struggle due to an overly emotional, irrational, pant shitting urchin.

33, kid free and cruising. Ya'll can keep em.
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Sounds about right. I don't have the time or patience to deal with that. It sounds miserable to me. Honestly the only appeal is to have someone to take care of me when I'm dying, but is that worth the 20 years of effort and financial drain? Meh.
 
maxcriden said:
Couple more questions for Parent-Age--

when your kid(s) act out, does it frustrate you or are you able to kind of just laugh at it in a loving way?
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My kids are still basically babies, 2 and 1.

When my kids act out I don't get too frustrated. I ignore them, laugh at them, or worst case, put them in bed if we are at home/ walk them outside if we are somewhere else. I am however used to babies, my parents had 5 kids and I am the second oldest.

My wife gets very frustrated you can feel her stress level rise when kids start acting up. A lot of it comes from experience and attitude. My wife never was around babies before ours, and she is still learning how to deal with them.

Vilam said:
Sounds about right. I don't have the time or patience to deal with that. It sounds miserable to me. Honestly the only appeal is to have someone to take care of me when I'm dying, but is that worth the 20 years of effort and financial drain? Meh.
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The relationship that you have with a person from caring for them from when they are completely helpless, to a full functioning intelligent adult is completely unique, and looking at it as just someone to take care of you is extremely short sighted. No judgment if you don't want kids though!
 
I think I'm the kind of guy who'd want at least one kid, optimally two kids. More than that is a nightmare I wish my parents didn't have to go through. (4 kids in the family)

Obviously, being a full time student I'm not able to commit to that stuff yet, but since the average age of first time parents in Sweden is around 28-30, I reckon I've got 7-9 years left to think about it and meet "the one".

2 kids, one wife, one dog, one cat if allergy permits, if not, then another dog or some hamsters for the kids. I'm set after that, I think.
 
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