reproducing

I've said on here before that I think the downsides of having kids outweigh the benefits, and I am happy to be a human being able to consider, rationalise, and decide what to do in that regard rather than being an apple tree with no choice.

Does having kids REALLY make people happy, or is there some hormone that is released upon becoming a parent that subconciously makes the parent think that they are enjoying the experience so they don't abandon their kids and conclude the human race? So many friends of mine say "being a parent is the best thing ever" and yet to me they seem pretty stressed and miserable about it most of the time.

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Originally Posted by Smeg

So many friends of mine say "being a parent is the best thing ever" and yet to me they seem pretty stressed and miserable about it most of the time.

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Im very surprised about that.

Having kids is no fun, plenty of stress and bloody expensive, so I strongly advice against you reproducing, Smeg.:cool:

you need imaginary girl friends to survive at least 9 months to make this happen;) :gost:

i love my kids. its just their mother i am not too keen on

^ Demand refund or replacement.

Having kids is stressful, demanding and most likely the largest personal sacrifice most people will ever make. Your life is no longer your own, You no longer have the freedom to "get up and walk away."
My kids are 24 & 26 now. looking back on it, I would have to say, although I would make some changes in the things I done, I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.

I had my first offspring at 54 YO, now have 3 girls. I never really wanted or missed having kids when I was younger, my lifestyle was too active and I was too selfish to give up the freedom. Now i am besotted with my girls, strangely enough I have the patience to deal with them now, that I wouldn't have when i was younger.

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Originally Posted by peterpan

I had my first offspring at 54 YO, now have 3 girls. I never really wanted or missed having kids when I was younger, my lifestyle was too active and I was too selfish to give up the freedom. Now i am besotted with my girls, strangely enough I have the patience to deal with them now, that I wouldn't have when i was younger.

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I think this sums it up. Having kids is something that most people don't want when they are busy living their own life and need lots of freedom and free time to do that, but once the goals have been largly accomplished or missed, its time to hang up the boots and let the next lot have their try, which creates a whole new goal of trying to help them achieve it.

I want a kids but at 33 I am not ready, however I don't want to be an 'old dad' - I want to be one of those dads who is hip and with it.

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Originally Posted by peterpan

first offspring at 54 YO

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when your first is graduating high school you'll be 72. then there's two more after that! and college?
early thirties i think is optimum but that just me.
I'm done with it. Will have grand kids in a few years I 'magin but I'll just spoil 'em and send 'em home...

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Originally Posted by The Gentleman Scamp

- I want to be one of those dads who is hip and with it.

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oh dear. those are the most embarassing kind for their kids

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Originally Posted by friscofrankie

Having kids is stressful, demanding and most likely the largest personal sacrifice most people will ever make. Your life is no longer your own, You no longer have the freedom to "get up and walk away."
My kids are 24 & 26 now. looking back on it, I would have to say, although I would make some changes in the things I done, I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.

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100% bro, 100%

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Originally Posted by friscofrankie

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Originally Posted by peterpan

first offspring at 54 YO

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when your first is graduating high school you'll be 72.

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Understand that its not the ideal, but on the other hand I am with them every day and mostly all day. The two older ones can hold a converstion in Thai or English and can navigate their way around their learning programs on the internet. They will have sufficient money until they are mature and their Mum is 31, so for the most part they are streets ahead of the other kids around here.

Must admit, I've never quite got it.

Don't know why, really.

I left my first wife when she started talking about kids (although that was far from the only reason I left). I think I then subconsciously avoided the issue by getting together with my second (current) wife when I was 29 and she was 32 and already had three kids with her first husband, the youngest being 12.

They lived with us on and off over the years but I never really considered them as "my" kids in any way nor tried to palm myself off as some kind of father figure. I was just an older guy who was with their mum.

They were (are) good kids, but the experience never made me particularly want any of my own.

Nor has teaching in Thailand...

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Originally Posted by

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friscofrankie

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Having kids is stressful, demanding and most likely the largest personal sacrifice most people will ever make. Your life is no longer your own, You no longer have the freedom to "get up and walk away."
My kids are 24 & 26 now. looking back on it, I would have to say, although I would make some changes in the things I done, I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.

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This is what I was talking about in the OP. Its stressful, demanding, and requires significant sacrifice, and yet most people on the planet spend a substantial part of their life doing it. Why?

Like I said, is it some hormone that kicks in that makes you put up with all these things to allow the knowledge that you have reproduced and your genes will continue on the planet? Race survival depends on this, so I think it must be something subconscious controlling everything.

It's called procreation of the species smeg.The only way to pass your genes on old boy.People who are not religious might say it's the meaning of life.It's the reason why our sex drive is so high.If people didn't have kids,then we would be all well fucked......

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Originally Posted by Little Chuchok

It's the reason why our sex drive is so high.

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Twenty years of sacrifice for twenty seconds of orgasm? :rolleyes:

It's always been that way.

it is said to be the only way to immoratlity - for what that's worth :)

I am 30 and have a 15 month old and another one due in 3 months.

yes it is hard work but evenings like today make it all worth it.

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Originally Posted by Smeg

Twenty years of sacrifice for twenty seconds of orgasm?

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Yeah, then there's the risk of having kids to boot!

Double whammy bummer!

I put it down to this
1) sex drive causes kids
2) humans find baby humans cute
3) humans get attached to things after a while, including babies
4) humans have an instinct to nurture and protect the vunerable

Hence sacrficies are made for decades, in the name of addiction and nobiliy

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Originally Posted by Smeg

4) humans have an instinct to nurture and protect the vunerable

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Ah, that explains it. Republicans are not human...

Sorry, OT and wrong forum but could not resist...

i was a step-father at 22 and had my own son at 23, and another daughter at 25.

i am now 34 and looking forward to making another set with my next wife:)

my kids are generally a pain in the ass but there is the odd moment of pleasure - like having someone to play football or playstation with.

:)

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Originally Posted by The Gentleman Scamp

I want a kids but at 33 I am not ready, however I don't want to be an 'old dad' - I want to be one of those dads who is hip and with it.

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Well then you best start planting some seeds or it will pass you bye.:bunny3:

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Originally Posted by andyirish57

I want to be one of those dads who is hip and with it.

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using terms such as "hip and with it," it would appear as if that time has come and gone...

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Originally Posted by friscofrankie

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Originally Posted by andyirish57

I want to be one of those dads who is hip and with it.

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using terms such as "hip and with it," it would appear as if that time has come and gone...

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no kidding and by my calculations you are about 175 years old yourself so least qualified to recognize this, but since you have itmeans poor ole scampy is in major trouble, best to just commit suicide no methinks.