tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2268967799098952709.post8237834329702648212..comments2023-08-07T11:44:36.604+01:00Comments on Forever Wandering: Baby, Baby, BabyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10029689159734954944noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2268967799098952709.post-20071774675418354652012-05-12T01:58:10.939+01:002012-05-12T01:58:10.939+01:00Wow...there's a lot there...hmmm. I don't ...Wow...there's a lot there...hmmm. I don't think any decent human being wants to have kids so that they can take care of them in their old age. If anything, one doesn't want to burden the ones they love with their care.<br /><br />There IS something to be said, however, for creating and enjoying the family that you either did or didn't have, and trying to create the best and most intimate social group you can imagine and enjoying that experience which is, although fleeting, one that can be very rich.<br /><br />Yes, there are challenges, and if you don't want to be pressed into growth like a grape into juice, then you'll never know what kind of wine you can become, because that is what it takes to be a parent. It takes all of your energy...every bit, and people who pretend otherwise are fooling themselves.<br /><br />Careers are great and if that's your passion, then so be it. Nobody should be forced to have children out of some sort of societal pressure. I will say, however, that you never know how rewarding the parenting challenge can be until you try it. No marathon, no zip line, nor any other physical challenge can prepare a person for the rewards and frustrations of climbing the parenting mountain, but once you do the exhilaration of knowing that somebody has a life complete with dreams and hopes because you gave them that gift is an incredible honor.<br /><br />Your reward for all this effort can be what the legend calls the Valley of Shangri-La, if you so choose. In Shangri-La, no one ages, no one suffers and a type of amnesia renders everyone completely satisfied. In hindsight, the memories of family are a bit like this, and when you're too old to take care of yourself those memories can sustain you.Ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15876059526856237074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2268967799098952709.post-84208586515753705152012-05-11T17:40:32.472+01:002012-05-11T17:40:32.472+01:00Well said! I totally agree. People always give tha...Well said! I totally agree. People always give that, "Who's going to take care of you in your old age?" speech when I tell them I'm probably not going to have children. That's disgusting. What, are we supposed to birth our own personal caregivers? My hope is that, in focusing on a career, I'll have enough money in my old age to pay someone to wipe my drool and read me the paper. Either way, that's a horrible justification for having kids.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10029689159734954944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2268967799098952709.post-63684442544764059342012-05-11T16:39:56.842+01:002012-05-11T16:39:56.842+01:00I know, dude. I am hearing the tick-tick-tick, too...I know, dude. I am hearing the tick-tick-tick, too. But I think... I don't know, man. We build the life we want, and it is a shitload more selfish to have a baby so we won't be alone in our old age. It is also more selfish to have kids you don't want. Kids need more than most people consider. We are brave for not having kids.Missy Y. (formerly A Case of You)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00024813150457436868noreply@blogger.com