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I've seen a lot of negative comments lately about parents and children such as:
Parents are miserable
Parents never sleep
Parents never travel
Parents never have fun
Having kids means you'll never have money
Parents are jealous of childless people
Parents are selfish
People shouldn't have kids because the world is already overpopulated
If you're a woman and you have a child, no man will ever want you
Kids are all disrespectful brats
Kids shouldn't be allowed in restaurants
Kids cry and scream all of the time
Basically being a parent sucks
Anyway, as parents we all know that some of these may be true some of the time but for most of us being a parent has more ups than downs. Having said all that, I thought it would be nice for parents to list some of the good things about having children, I'll start,
The amazing feeling of holding your newborn baby against your skin
Hearing your baby say mama or dada for the first time
Seeing the smile on your toddler's face when you walk in the room
Chasing your toddler through the house as they squee in delight
Seeing the excitement on your child's face on Christmas morning
Chores! Kids are an excellent way to get help around the house (I rarely did dishes from the time my daughter was about ten until she moved out)
Getting to experience fun kid stuff again like playing with play doh or dressing up Barbies
A teenager with a driver's license is eager to drive anywhere so it's an excellent opportunity to get them to run errands for you
The proud moment of seeing your kid accept their diploma in their cap and gown
When I had my second baby, a son, I got mastitis and was put back into hospital.
The nurses looked after my baby and were AMAZED the next day that he slept 7 hours a night from birth.
Both my kids did. But then so did their mom.
I look back on those years as Pure Utter and Total Happiness and Delight. Literally THE BEST years of my life, so far. Nothing will top them until I get me a grandchild.
Little people are awesome. Lots and lots of fun and then you get the first glimpses of their personalities - fascinating. Then they grow and become their own little people that have their own ideas and questions...all, truly amazing.
Sometimes you see a much loved passed relative in your baby's eyes, like my daughters.
Child birth truly is a miracle.
Mother love is the purest and strongest love there is.
I wouldn't have changed a single second of it. Not one.
I think most parents experience all the highs you listed, and many of the lows also. I'm not going to list anything, I see no reason to try and change the minds of the child-free by choice. I liked being a mother, and I would do it again, but it isn't for everyone.
This post wasn't intended to change the minds of anyone but I see so much negativity regarding parenting that I thought it might be nice to talk about the good side of having kids. The lows aren't all things I've actually experienced just some things that I've seen mentioned on these forums. Sure it's not for everyone and I personally don't care what other people do with their lives. I'm sure people without kids could create a list about all of the great things about not having kids but I put this in the Parenting forum with the sole intent of creating a positive thread.
This post wasn't intended to change the minds of anyone but I see so much negativity regarding parenting that I thought it might be nice to talk about the good side of having kids.
I think Mattie's point is that negativity is coming from people who don't have kids. We parents KNOW the positives and the pluses!
Listing positives is almost a challenge to them to come here and be negative yet again.
I see your point Pitt Chick, I guess I was thinking that maybe people could talk about some things they enjoyed doing with their kids like building forts or sweet moments like seeing their baby's first steps.
Love. The best thing about having kids was my love for them. I love my husband, my friends, my family, my dogs but it is NOTHING compared to how I feel for my boys. If I had never felt this overwhelming love and desire to see them happy I feel I would have been gyped. Loving someone unconditionally is a more satisfying love then being loved. Well at least for me.
I think most parents experience all the highs you listed, and many of the lows also. I'm not going to list anything, I see no reason to try and change the minds of the child-free by choice. I liked being a mother, and I would do it again, but it isn't for everyone.
Couldn't have said it better!
I am raising teens now, and not really liking this stage of life I miss the days of snuggling warm newborns, watching them discover the world. It goes by fast!
There's just so many of those moments when they're little.
I used to go in and watch them sleep.
When they get older - well, its different. Way different. But still nice.
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But then so did their mom.
I miss the days of snuggling warm newborns, watching them discover the world. It goes by fast!
