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The oddest thing is the question about "free time." Why would someone assume that people without kids have more or less "free time" than someone with kids? I know a couple without kids and they have less free time than a couple I know with five kids...
Very true! I know another couple without kids and they see each other every other week because they are out of the country simultenously on business. When they do get 'free time' its about a few hours to a day if lucky.
What is the point of this thread and why did I take time to respond?
LMAO!! I was just asking myself why I was even reading this post when I read your comment!!
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Originally Posted by Sonata36
The oddest thing is the question about "free time." Why would someone assume that people without kids have more or less "free time" than someone with kids? I know a couple without kids and they have less free time than a couple I know with five kids...
How is this possible????
But since I've already taken the time to post, I guess I will answer: What do you think of couples without children?
I sometimes wonder if they know what they are missing. I could have easily been a childless couple (or part of one, I guess). I was very much surprised about the total disruption that children took on my life and self, and how willing I was to embrace the total chaos and loose that focus on self. I also sometimes wonder if they DO know, and they are the only sane ones that saved themselves!
Do you automatically think they don't like kids?
Nope. I actually think some parents that DO have kids don't like kids.
Are you jealous of their free time?
Nope. I really, really enjoy spending my time with my kids, and can't imagine it any other way now. I am, however, probably jealous of their finances! I don't know what I would do with all the free time, I do know what I would do with all that $$$!!
I used to be mystified as to why anyone would get married if they didn't want children. To me, having children was the point of getting married and couldn't see why someone would want to get married if they didn't plan to have a family. Not so much now--I'm older, and I know a few married couples who are childfree by choice yet chose to marry, and at this age, I'm smart enough to know their choice is none of my business.
No, I don't automatically think they don't like kids.
No, I was never jealous of their free time. I was frequently jealous of the free time of mothers who didn't have to work full-time, though. But, I got over that, too.
I don't think about couples who don't have any children. There could be other reasons for them not having any children, other than not wanting any...
Fertility issues for one, which I have gone through and always hated the questions; WHEN are you going to have kids?
We were married almost 8 years before adopting our 1st child...
Not jealous of their free time, never thought about it and as a mom who doesn't work full time, as the above post insinuated, I have plenty of that anyway's... Ugh.
There is only one childless couple I've ever wondered "why" about and that's my ex-boyfriend and his wife. There was a time I thought I'd marry him, and I wonder if we'd have ended up not having kids, if it was her, or him, or a mutual decision.
I am sometimes jealous of their free time, but not their life in general.
The only ones I "think" of on a regular basis are my aunt and uncle, they are childless due to some unfortunate circumstances and it makes me very sad for them. They would have been great parents.
Aside from that I don't really think about it. Oddly I know many, many couples who are childless by choice. I guess it is what works for them or they were just unlucky.
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Do you automatically think they don't like kids?
Nope, I know teachers who are childless by choice.
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Are you jealous of their free time?
I am not jealous of their "free time". Most people I know don't really have "free time", since they sign up for more and more things based on the amount of time they have. As a group my friends tend to be all fairly busy.
1. I don't think anything about it, because it's not my business.
2. I never assume that. It could be that they want children and have fertility issues. Or it might not be the right time for them. Either way, not my business.
3. No, I don't get jealous of other people's circumstances. Besides, I enjoy spending my free time with my kids.
What do you think of couples without children?
I don't really think about couples without children.
Do you automatically think they don't like kids?
No
ETA: Unless they make it abundantly clear they don't like kids. I know many couples without children are calling for kids to banned from public places like libraries, grocery stores, etc.
Are you jealous of their free time?
No, jealousy is a wasted emotion. I try every hard to not be jealous
I don't think much different of them than anyone else. They're people like anyone else. I'd be liable to think worse of someone who has kids and is so obviously unequipped for it, but really I'm so busy concentrating on my own life that I don't have a lot of time to think about others' lives.
That is a very good question. What is your real concern here, OP?
Thank you for your replies!
I'm just kinda gathering a general opinion of what people think? I'm at the age where a bunch of friends are having kids and some aren't so we are kinda caught in the middle. My hubby and I aren't really sure where we fit in anymore and are feeling a bit left out.
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I could have easily been a childless couple (or part of one, I guess). I was very much surprised about the total disruption that children took on my life and self, and how willing I was to embrace the total chaos and loose that focus on self. I also sometimes wonder if they DO know, and they are the only sane ones that saved themselves!
