Who loves and wants children?

[Saint Frankenstein]

This thread is about being the opposite of childfree. Whether you've had kids and want more, or don't currently have children but would like to, this thread is for you.

As for me, I always dreamed of being a dad and husband at some point. I wanted to already be married by this point, but life didn't work out that way. As a trans man, there's no way I'm having biological children which is something I accept, but I have no problem adoption or even my female partner using IVF and donor sperm if she wished to bear children. I don't think it's my right to deny my partner the experience of bearing children just because I'm sterile in that right regard. I would also be open to being with a woman who already has kids and adopting them as my own (nothing wrong with a nice MILF, lol).

My only thing is that I think an infant would drive me insane. Lol. So I would be more interested in adopting an older child. But I'm willing to get over that. Hopefully I will be more mature at that point.

So what do you think? Do you actually want kids? Do you want more? Wanting to be a parent these days seems rather counter-cultural and taboo, which is a very disturbing development. Me, I always go against the grain.

Another aspect that would be interesting to discuss is dating strategies to find people who actually want a relationship leading to a family. As a 32 year old man, this mostly seems hopeless but I am still trying to be optimistic.

Let's be respectful towards each other, please.

 

[Rival]

I think being a mom or dad is the best job.

I believe having a family, as a man or a woman, is the most fulfilling and life-affirming thing one can do. I place it above everything else in life; work, career, making money etc. are nothing compared to raising a child. As one woman put it, 'the purpose of life is to create life' - and I concur. I dislike the new 'childfree' movement and won't in any way support it.

I hope you can have children one day bro

 

[Exaltist Ethan]

You'd be a good father, Saint Frankenstein.

I however got a vasectomy at the age of 27 so I can have all the carefree sex I want!

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I think being a mom or dad is the best job.

I believe having a family, as a man or a woman, is the most fulfilling and life-affirming thing one can do. I place it above everything else in life; work, career, making money etc. are nothing compared to raising a child. As one woman put it, 'the purpose of life is to create life' - and I concur.

I hope you can have children one day bro

I totally agree! I think parenthood is the completion of both womanhood and manhood. There's no higher vocation than to create and bring new life into the world, which will outlive you and impact the world for centuries to come. It's one great way to take part in the Divine reality.

Thanks! To you, as well!

 

[Wildswanderer]

Having kids is hard.. and one of the best things that ever happened to me. It's totally worth it.

 

[JustGeorge]

This thread is about being the opposite of childfree. Whether you've had kids and want more, or don't currently have children but would like to, this thread is for you.

As for me, I always dreamed of being a dad and husband at some point. I wanted to already be married by this point, but life didn't work out that way. As a trans man, there's no way I'm having biological children which is something I accept, but I have no problem adoption or even my female partner using IVF and donor sperm if she wished to bear children. I don't think it's my right to deny my partner the experience of bearing children just because I'm sterile in that right regard. I would also be open to being with a woman who already has kids and adopting them as my own (nothing wrong with a nice MILF, lol).

My only thing is that I think an infant would drive me insane. Lol. So I would be more interested in adopting an older child. But I'm willing to get over that. Hopefully I will be more mature at that point.

So what do you think? Do you actually want kids? Do you want more? Wanting to be a parent these days seems rather counter-cultural and taboo, which is a very disturbing development. Me, I always go against the grain.

Another aspect that would be interesting to discuss is dating strategies to find people who actually want a relationship leading to a family. As a 32 year old man, this mostly seems hopeless but I am still trying to be optimistic.

Let's be respectful towards each other, please.

I've got three boys, 16, 8, and 3.

I thought about having a 4th, but scrapped that idea once I began homeschooling. I don't think I could homeschool another one efficiently. Also, as autism runs in my lines, having a 3rd with autism would be a challenge, based off of all the supports you need to have in place. That would be a lot of therapy appointments.

I would like to adopt an older child(the baby stage scares me), but that won't happen. Costs a lot. I know you can go through the foster care system, but having kids in and out all the time would break my heart, and I know I'm not constituted to foster.

Pregnancy is also very very hard on me, and I'm not sure I could do it again.

 

[Rival]

It's one great way to take part in the Divine reality.

This.

One thing I learned recently is that, unlike the Ancient Greeks and Romans, and even Jews at times, the Ancient Egyptians did not throw sickly children out to die. They loved children:

“This, however, of all their [Egyptian] usages is most to be admired, that they bring up all children that are born.”

Strabo, Geography, 17.2.5

Egyptians were also known to raise children put out to die by the Greeks and Romans in their country (albeit often as slaves, but it's better than being laid out to die).

 

[JustGeorge]

This.

One thing I learned recently is that, unlike the Ancient Greeks and Romans, and even Jews at times, the Ancient Egyptians did not throw sickly children out to die. They loved children:

“This, however, of all their [Egyptian] usages is most to be admired, that they bring up all children that are born.”

Strabo, Geography, 17.2.5

Egyptians were also known to raise children put out to die by the Greeks and Romans in their country (albeit often as slaves, but it's better than being laid out to die).

That's wonderful.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

This.

One thing I learned recently is that, unlike the Ancient Greeks and Romans, and even Jews at times, the Ancient Egyptians did not throw sickly children out to die. They loved children:

“This, however, of all their [Egyptian] usages is most to be admired, that they bring up all children that are born.”

Strabo, Geography, 17.2.5

Egyptians were also known to raise children put out to die by the Greeks and Romans in their country (albeit often as slaves, but it's better than being laid out to die).

I didn't know that. The ancient Egyptians seemed more humane than most cultures, and were ahead of their time. Bless them for such good deeds. That's one of the things the early Christians would do - rescue abandoned babies left out to die.

 

[Rival]

I didn't know that. The ancient Egyptians seemed more humane than most cultures, and were ahead of their time. Bless them for such good deeds. That's one of the things the early Christians would do - rescue abandoned babies left out to die.

Yes, we're more alike than different!

They also seemed to reject pederasty and basically their aim in life seemed to be having large families.

"Ancient Egyptians, like modern Egyptians, loved children, and took good care of them. Mothers nursed their babies for three or four years. Little ones were carried by their mothers in a soft sling, so that they felt her body's warmth and her presence always. There are many images of mothers taking their babies with them to work. Sometimes older children wear the sling to carry their baby brothers and sisters. Infants were probably held most of the time. Scorpions and snakes were a danger to babies who were not carefully watched.

Even after they began to eat solid food, young children ate with their mothers, who looked after them constantly.

The names given to children also tell us of the affection parents had for their little ones: Nakht, which means strong, and Nefer, which means beautiful, were common names. Merit, which means beloved, was popular, too. These terms could be combined with the names of gods to give a child protection."

Childhood | Royal Ontario Museum (rom.on.ca)

"CAIRO – 17 November 2020: Archaeological researcher Ahmed Amer said that children in ancient Egypt had a special place within the family and among members of society, as a social law had been put in place to protect them and preserve their rights.

He added that the provisions of that law were a moral and societal obligation on the part of families and all components of society at the time to take care of children and give them the right to learn and play as well.

The public was permitted to study in the schools built inside the royal palaces. Then the matter evolved and every craft needed its creator to acquire some form of formal education, which made schools spread across the country.

Fathers in ancient Egypt were responsible for educating their children and the children of others.

Amer indicated that the ancient Egyptians adopted orphaned children and took care of them.

[...]

Furthermore, Amer added that the ancient Egyptians had the utmost interest in educating their children. They also took an interest in entertaining them, so they created games and gave their children time for hiking and group play.

Rather, children in ancient Egypt enjoyed full rights and lived in a society that provided them with all the education and entertainment they needed. A child was not allowed to learn any craft until he/she had reached the age of maturity. A child was left in their early years to enjoy and play."

How were children treated in ancient Egypt? - EgyptToday

 

[Aupmanyav]

This thread is about being the opposite of childfree. Whether you've had kids and want more, or don't currently have children but would like to, this thread is for you.

My only thing is that I think an infant would drive me insane. Lol. So I would be more interested in adopting an older child. But I'm willing to get over that. Hopefully I will be more mature at that point.

Yes, I would have liked more children if I had more money at that time (I have two, both above 50 now, and three grandchildren).
Don't dismiss infants. They are at times difficult but more enjoyable.
For you I wish a matching companion and adopted children to brighten your world.
Children in India also are given all facilities if the financial status of their parents permits. It was fun to grow in large joint families.

 

[ChristineM]

We left it until late to have children putting the business first. When we decided time was running out we discovered hubby is infertile. The devastation turned to joy when we chose an alternative method of conception that i won't discuss on a public thread. We had twins (boy/girl) and 4 years later a daughter.

The twins have just turned 16, and heading to lycée (college/high school) in a few weeks.
The youngster is 12, also a big change this year because she moves from junior to middle school in a couple of weeks.

They are my life (or most of it), my main goal in life is to survive until at least after they have fledged the nest

 

[Polymath257]

I've never understood wanting to have children, even though I have one (my wife at the time insisted).

It's good there are people who enjoy it. But that isn't me.

 

[Erebus]

As for me, I always dreamed of being a dad and husband at some point. I wanted to already be married by this point, but life didn't work out that way. As a trans man, there's no way I'm having biological children which is something I accept, but I have no problem adoption or even my female partner using IVF and donor sperm if she wished to bear children. I don't think it's my right to deny my partner the experience of bearing children just because I'm sterile in that right regard. I would also be open to being with a woman who already has kids and adopting them as my own (nothing wrong with a nice MILF, lol).

My only thing is that I think an infant would drive me insane. Lol. So I would be more interested in adopting an older child. But I'm willing to get over that. Hopefully I will be more mature at that point.

Not a child person myself but I have tremendous respect for people who adopt. There are unfortunately a lot of unwanted children out there in need of a loving home.

I hope you find somebody you can do this with someday.

 

[Truth in love]

This thread is about being the opposite of childfree. Whether you've had kids and want more, or don't currently have children but would like to, this thread is for you.

As for me, I always dreamed of being a dad and husband at some point. I wanted to already be married by this point, but life didn't work out that way. As a trans man, there's no way I'm having biological children which is something I accept, but I have no problem adoption or even my female partner using IVF and donor sperm if she wished to bear children. I don't think it's my right to deny my partner the experience of bearing children just because I'm sterile in that right regard. I would also be open to being with a woman who already has kids and adopting them as my own (nothing wrong with a nice MILF, lol).

My only thing is that I think an infant would drive me insane. Lol. So I would be more interested in adopting an older child. But I'm willing to get over that. Hopefully I will be more mature at that point.

So what do you think? Do you actually want kids? Do you want more? Wanting to be a parent these days seems rather counter-cultural and taboo, which is a very disturbing development. Me, I always go against the grain.

Another aspect that would be interesting to discuss is dating strategies to find people who actually want a relationship leading to a family. As a 32 year old man, this mostly seems hopeless but I am still trying to be optimistic.

Let's be respectful towards each other, please.

Being a father is like the peace corps slogan its is very hard and I love it.

I've been stared at many times for having more than 2 kids. We talked about having more, but with health issues and such we decided to be done.

Infants are in high demand for adoptions. Older children often are not (they also most often have some major trauma in their life which complicates things).

 

[Yerda]

I think I'd maybe like to foster or adopt at some stage.

 

[VoidCat]

I don't know if I want kids or not. Certainly not at this age. I'm too young and can't even support myself let alone a kid

 

[ChristineM]

I don't know if I want kids or not. Certainly not at this age. I'm too young and can't even support myself let alone a kid

One of the things to think about with independence. Probably low on the list of things for you to think about though

 

[InChrist]

This thread is about being the opposite of childfree. Whether you've had kids and want more, or don't currently have children but would like to, this thread is for you.

As for me, I always dreamed of being a dad and husband at some point. I wanted to already be married by this point, but life didn't work out that way. As a trans man, there's no way I'm having biological children which is something I accept, but I have no problem adoption or even my female partner using IVF and donor sperm if she wished to bear children. I don't think it's my right to deny my partner the experience of bearing children just because I'm sterile in that right regard. I would also be open to being with a woman who already has kids and adopting them as my own (nothing wrong with a nice MILF, lol).

My only thing is that I think an infant would drive me insane. Lol. So I would be more interested in adopting an older child. But I'm willing to get over that. Hopefully I will be more mature at that point.

So what do you think? Do you actually want kids? Do you want more? Wanting to be a parent these days seems rather counter-cultural and taboo, which is a very disturbing development. Me, I always go against the grain.

Another aspect that would be interesting to discuss is dating strategies to find people who actually want a relationship leading to a family. As a 32 year old man, this mostly seems hopeless but I am still trying to be optimistic.

Let's be respectful towards each other, please.

I love children. Mine are grown now and I love and enjoy the grandkids!

 

[Orbit]

Just to remind those who are talking about kids being the be-all, end-all to life, and the "culmination" of being a man or woman, not everyone CAN have kids, and they are not "unfulfilled" if they can't give birth. Just sayin'.