331–340 of 902 posts
“ when our first child was born. It was like someone flipped a switch. I suddenly felt protective not just toward our child, but toward all children” This happened to me two months back when I had my first child. Yes having a child has made me less productive with my work but I feel I’m happier now. Everyday I look forward to get home from work
I have met people like that who do not even have children!
Hey guys. Anyone else have the experience of having kids, getting a burst of energy, but of course all that energy goes directly back into the kids and house, and you have absolutely no life for 3-5 years or more? Because my kids are 2 and 4 and so far it's been 4 years of no life, no freelance clients, almost no learning/hobbies, just 35-40 hours a week of working as much as I can at the office and then everything i…
Hey guys. Anyone else have the experience of having kids, getting a burst of energy, but of course all that energy goes directly back into the kids and house, and you have absolutely no life for 3-5 years or more? Because my kids are 2 and 4 and so far it's been 4 years of no life, no freelance clients, almost no learning/hobbies, just 35-40 hours a week of working as much as I can at the office and then everything i…
Hey guys. Anyone else have the experience of having kids, getting a burst of energy, but of course all that energy goes directly back into the kids and house, and you have absolutely no life for 3-5 years or more? Because my kids are 2 and 4 and so far it's been 4 years of no life, no freelance clients, almost no learning/hobbies, just 35-40 hours a week of working as much as I can at the office and then everything i…
It's gotten a bit better. (My daughter just turned 10) It's more like 95%. And each year I get a sliver more back. I think that in a few years more it should shift even more dramatically.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Agreed. I do remember reading somewhere that the average current full time working mother spends more time with her children than a housewife in the 50s. Children used to go outside and play and have more unstructured time. I feel like there is this whole odd child-centric culture in the US. It is bizarre how many young adults I meet nowadays who have not been left without adult supervision for more than 15 minutes t…
We're American but live outside the US. Honestly our parent friends in the US seem sad and exhausted by comparison- the cult of workaholism is terrible for families, and the (guaranteed month of real pto/decent parental leave/shorter commutes/million other little things that make life less precarious) add up.
I don't like kids. I don't want kids. I'm 46 and single and I don't want to date someone with kids. It drastically reduces my dating pool but I'm willing to live with that. There are enough people on earth as it is. I don't feel like I need to increase that number.
Sadly many women with this view are discriminated against.
Hey guys. Anyone else have the experience of having kids, getting a burst of energy, but of course all that energy goes directly back into the kids and house, and you have absolutely no life for 3-5 years or more? Because my kids are 2 and 4 and so far it's been 4 years of no life, no freelance clients, almost no learning/hobbies, just 35-40 hours a week of working as much as I can at the office and then everything i…
Compare that to perhaps how it was for him (or for me) growing up. Parents under a great deal of financial pressure. (In my case immigrant parents one who came here with nothing one who grew up here with nothing). Work long hours (for both themselves and the kids) and when they get home from work not a bed of roses. Not having the luxury of having a Harvard degree either (as Paul has) (I have a good degree but the reason is my parents busted their asses so that I could get into a good school).
No such thing by the way as a blanket 'kids are a blessing' don't let anyone paint it that way. Sorry to rain on the parade. Plenty of people's lives don't revolve around the joy of children (whether they have children or not (I do)) and that's ok. I have kids but don't particularly enjoy doing any 'kids' things just not my thing. Nothing wrong with that. Once again it just seems like a box that some people want to put you in based on their own happiness and experience in life (or at least that is the way it seems).
You know you read it all the time. 'The best day of my life was when my child was born'. 'I want to spend more time with my family'. 'So you can spend more time with your family'. 'I love coaching my kids sports teams'. Picture of fun on Facebook. And so on.