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this is just a generic (blind) poll seeking wisdom from guys who have been there and have experienced fatherhood (in what ever form, from absentee to equally shared parenting to stay-at-home dad, etc.).
with some of the social, economic and relationship challenges we have today, i'm curious about the results of this basic question: dads/fathers, given what you know now, would you recommend, support or otherwise encourage younger men to consider have children at some point in their life?
there is obviously lots of information out there on single parenting (in and out of wedlock), the advantages to children raised by two parent, post-divorce custody/visitation arrangements to raise and support children, and interestingly some ppl who advocate or have decided not to have children, whether through choice, lack of opportunity, or personal beliefs (e.g., "it's a harsh world to grow up in"). so i though some contemporary feedback would be interesting.
and, finally, this is not a question of "do you wish you never had children", it's sharing your experienced wisdom with other men thinking about or desiring to have children at some point in their life. no judging please, and no opinion is greater than another so long as conception and childbirth occurred.
a vote is all that is requested. comment as you if you want, but we all know that everyone is entitle to their own individual opinion and the experiences of others many not be the same as yours. please avoid gender politics, politically sensitive or other controversial commentary. i'm just curious about the philosophical concept really.
and ladies, respectfully, please don't vote since i think the poll results could prove interesting to everyone for discussion purposes.
i'm on the same wave length as you, though i'm hearing fairly strong opinions across the board. for sure modern technology, economic challenges, and declining traditional values are having a tremendous influence on raising kids and ppl's decision to have them.
Well, I'll say that a child can bring a joy to a mans life that few other things can. I had my nephews up here this summer and I always take them out in my boat fishing while they are here. I got the boys on a hot spot of fish that they were pulling them in nearly every cast. The oldest one caught a 16" largemouth bass that would make any seasoned fisherman grin ear to ear. Minutes later he caught two more nice ones. I wish I had a camera..... He'll live with that memory for the rest of his life. His younger brother caught some big lake perch too. It's just one of the things "I" do with/for them that no one else does. My Sister has to practically beg them to come back home. It's all they talk about, coming up and spending time with their Uncle. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
do you think your desire to have children could be fulfilled by exactly what your are doing right now with your sisters kids? or maybe helping other young kids, including helping raise another man's kids as in the case of being in an LTR with a single mom?
You don't know until you actually try it. Yes. It's a life-long hobby, especially when, as adults, they ignore you and then in the middle of the night you have a sobbing son or daughter on the other end of the phone; you find a phone booth; put on your superman costume; grab a flight from Copenhagen to Memphis; drive them across the country to San Francisco, and help them get back on their feet.
From reading around here, I think I am one of the few men who does. That's alright, I was also a Cub Scout and Boy Scout before I became a U.S. Marine. I have been thinking about doing Scouting as something once again to help kids. I see my old Troop around on Saturday's selling BBQ chicken for a fund raiser. I always stop in and say hello. The boys know me now and also know who and what I was after.
You're very welcome boys!
Now lets get some leather and make some sheaths or carve some walking sticks!
Kudos to you for volunteering your time with scouting.
My kids were in scouts when they were young. Their father passed when they were little so I helped out a lot with their troop. There was a huge lack of father involvement for whatever reason. A lot of these young boys could really use a positive male figure in their lives.
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