Sunday, April 27, 2008

I Want To Live Like Childless People

One common lament that can be heard in our house, between the two adults, is: "remember when, we could go on long drives just for fun or have a clean house, or not have to grocery shop every day."

Before the two youngest were born we were parents for part of the week and childless the other part. It was great; responsible adults one part overgrown adolescents the other.

What am I getting at? I am not complaining about having kids, I made a choice and am happily living it. I can't write about this without first bringing up the envy I sometimes have of people with less chaotic lives. I mean, face it ,even the most organized people lose some of that...ability? when they are faced with the chaos that surrounds young children. ( I was not organized before I had kids; I had less stuff. Now it is all to obvious that organization is not a skill I have ever had.)

This is for all the people who don't have and don't want children. Don't let your friends, coworkers, family members, or acquaintances who have kids tell you otherwise having children is a completely selfish act.

There is nothing altruistic about it, it is driven by hormones; by this want to reproduce. Adoption is altruistic. Reading to kids in elementary schools, becoming a mentor, giving money to charities that help kids is altruistic.

Taking your brother or sisters kids for the weekend is also a sainted activity.

I think that half of the people who have children spent a few minutes thinking about what they are getting themselves into they might not do it.

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