40 reasons not to have children

[canabiz]

An interesting article in Saturday's National Post. Top 40 reasons posted in this link

http://www.canada.com/life/story.html?id=1871401

As somebody who doesn't mind not to have kids, i find myself in agreement with some of the author's reasons (she got 2 kids, btw) but I also find other reasons to be over the top and a bit out in left field.

I am curious to see if other child-less couples (by choice or otherwise) agree with this author

[FrugalTrader]

Imagine when her kids grow up and read the book that their mother wrote!

[dogcom]

OK we got the negative side. Now for some on the positive side.

1. Taking kids to Trick or Treat

2. Christmas is for kids to open presents.

3. Throwing rocks in the ditch.

4. Going to the zoo.

5. Looking at stuff on the beach.

6. Bugging your wife.

7. Looking at fun stuff in the toy store.

8. Getting soaked on hot days.

9. Looking at bugs.

10. Watching cartoons

Ok I got ten there, I am sure we can come up with some more.

[Rickson9]

Originally Posted by dogcom

OK we got the negative side. Now for some on the positive side.

1. Taking kids to Trick or Treat

2. Christmas is for kids to open presents.

3. Throwing rocks in the ditch.

4. Going to the zoo.

5. Looking at stuff on the beach.

6. Bugging your wife.

7. Looking at fun stuff in the toy store.

8. Getting soaked on hot days.

9. Looking at bugs.

10. Watching cartoons

Ok I got ten there, I am sure we can come up with some more.

Aside from #1 and #2 couldn't you do the other 8 things without a child?

I do notice, however, that our friends who decided to have kids tend to bicker a lot more (about who does more work around the home, who spends more time with the child, blah blah etc.) than the couples that don't have them.

[NorthernAlex]

I have three reasons here at home to have kids.....

[michika]

I do mostly agree with the author on her points. We're a childfree couple, and a lot of those reasons ring true, some of them, are just plain entertaining. I appreciate her honesty in writing about her feelings. As much as it gets some people up in arms over it, its good to hear the alternative views.

Children are not for everyone, and unfortunately not everybody weights the decision against their own values and capabilities. Just because other people are doing it, doesn't mean you need to too. Some people are cut out to be parents and others aren't.

[CanadianCapitalist]

The “desire for children”: A silly idea.

Says someone with 2 children! Try telling that to a couple who want kids but can't have them.

It is fine if someone doesn't want to have children for whatever reason (they are pretty smart people, IMO and I have three). But most of the reasons listed as simply "fillers", made up to make a long list.

[mfd]

I hope the author does a good job explaining that list in their book. The list just makes the author sound bitter. A couple of the ones that I thought were just wrong not matter how you try and spin it:


19. Your kid will always disappoint you

26. Kids signal the end of your youthful dreams

34. Motherhood or success: Pick one

35. When the child appears, the father disappears

38. Why wear yourself out for a future that doesn’t include you?

39. There are too many children in the world

[Kathryn]

Macleans had a similar article recently that was on the front cover.

Interesting reading. It might have been persuasive if it wasn't already too late.

The Case Against Having Kids
http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/07/24/no-kids-no-grief/

[Rickson9]

Originally Posted by Kathryn

Macleans had a similar article recently that was on the front cover.

Interesting reading. It might have been persuasive if it wasn't already too late.

The Case Against Having Kids
http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/07/24/no-kids-no-grief/

Thanks for the link. Very cool read.