For the Record...

[queenoftheskies]

First, I wasn't targeting anyone with my earlier post about condemning all parents with children.

Second, I agree with what most child-free folks have to say EXCEPT for condemning every single person in the world who chooses to have kids. (And, yes, some do condemn every single person in the world who has kids.)

I RESPECT people who don't conform to society and who do what's right for them. I don't think everyone in the world should have kids and I think it's up to each individual to decide that for themselves. Many of my friends are child-free.

And, NO, I'm not saying that every child-free person condemns every parent and child on the planet. But, a lot of the more vocal ones do.

On the other hand, my god, have you seen some of the crazy moms that have their own groups and lists and will always be dragging around at least one child hanging from their breast even when he/she is 25???

So, there are extremes on either side.

Me, personally, I believe in live and let live.

I have a responsibility as a parent to be the best parent I can be. That means providing for my child. That means raising my child to be a good, responsible person. That means teaching them manners and morals and NOT to annoy other people.

I am annoyed as hell when I go out and someone lets their child run screaming through a restaurant, climb under and over tables--INCLUDING MINE--and thinks it's cute or that something is wrong with me because I don't don't think it's cute.

My sister, devinharris, is child-free and when I'm complaining about an experience I've had, she often tells me that I sound like the child-free friends she has.

The difference? I don't CONDEMN every single person in the world who has kids. I know lots of good parents who have really good kids.

Not everyone, on either side of the coin, is all bad. That's what I think should be remembered.

Comments

[britzkrieg.livejournal.com]

And yes, some do condemn every single person in the world who has kids.

That's a pretty extreme viewpoint. Are these people members of the voluntary human extinction movement or something?

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

You know, I'm not sure.

I only know that I seem to be surrounded by them sometimes, and it gets as annoying as those little kids running wild in the grocery store and restaurants...oh, and up and down the stairs at home. There are four that live in the apartment next to me that scream and yell and run up and down the stairs all hours of the day and night. Don't know where mommy and daddy are.

[fancythat2.livejournal.com]

*Laughs* I don't think we are in danger of human extinction, quite the reverse. :-)

[britzkrieg.livejournal.com]

Regardless, there is still a Voluntary Human Extinction Movement (http://www.vhemt.org).

[fancythat2.livejournal.com]

No kiddin? *blinks* Who'd a thought?
I'd rather promote something like responsible family size or it's OK not to have kids if you don't want to.

[britzkrieg.livejournal.com]

Me too.

[beth-bernobich.livejournal.com]

I'd rather promote something like responsible family size or it's OK not to have kids if you don't want to.

But that would be sensible! :)

[fancythat2.livejournal.com]

Long live Common Sense!
and Long Live Personal Responsibility!
and There Are Consequences to Some Decisions!

My my, I'm just full of naughty words aren't I? ;->

[dragovianknight.livejournal.com]

You are a dangerous liberal, what with all your thinking.

[fancythat2.livejournal.com]

Oh well then. I can balance that out with my rabid attitudes about criminals and punishment.

[cicadabug.livejournal.com]

You know, I think there's just a depressing lack of courtesy and consideration among people in general. It may be more noticeable with kids, but it's not necessarily an age-based thing. OTOH, since polite adults tend to have polite kids, it's not too surprising that rude adults tend to have rude kids.

Let's just rant about rude people. After all, they're everywhere (-:

[copperwise.livejournal.com]

Condemn everyone who has kids? Good gravy.

Don't really enjoy the company of children as a whole. Get along great with teenagers, they think of me as an "aunt" type they can talk to when they aren't getting along with their parents. Hopefully I've been able to give some good guidance that way.

I'm child-free by choice. I deeply respect all of the people I know who have had kids and are doing their damn best to raise decent human beings. Thank you for taking on the job.

[jsgbits.livejournal.com]

Hear hear!

[dragovianknight.livejournal.com]

Second, I agree with what most child-free folks have to say EXCEPT for condemning every single person in the world who chooses to have kids.

You know, I think this would do better separated into two thoughts. You agree with what most childfree folks have to say. You really do. You don't agree with the radicals who condemn every single person who chooses to have kids. the way you phrase it makes it sound like most CF fall into the latter category, which IME isn't accurate.

[blzbob.livejournal.com]

We are friends with a 3 couples that are child-free. Our children are older and the one husband said that if he were guaranteed that his kids would be like mine, he'd like to have one or two. BUT, he knew in his heart that he couldn't be the father that I am, too many other things are important to him and children would be very low on his priorities. I concur. My boys were very high on my list. Oh, sure, two of those couples go on luxury vacations and are definitely out of my league monetarily. BUT, I go on vacation with my kids and we have fun. We each have different lifestyles that just happen to overlap.

The worst thing I can see is having children to say that you have some... and sadly, there are a lot of people out there in that particular boat. Children are not possessions.

[spaceoperadiva.livejournal.com]

I think there's a big difference in being annoyed by badly behaved children and expecting people to keep their little monsters in check and whining in a self-centered way because we parents get luxury vacation maternity leave and sometimes manage to arrange flex-time with our employers.

I have never, ever in my whole life, ever told anyone they should have or not have children. I just wish that the whiny selfish childfree people (as oppposed to the cool, friendly childfree people that I know) would offer me the same courtesy.