Babies

[Bobbey]

Guys, I think I have a problem.

I cannot bring myself, for the life of me, to like babies and small children, or to find them cute. I've been asked a couple times by siblings if I plan on having children later in life, and frankly, I can't give them a complete or straight answer because I'm afraid of what they might think of me. I've been told outright by some people that I'll never be a complete women if I don't fall pregnant and have a baby later, which I believe is total and utter bullshit and downright insulting.

Some people say that my maternal instinct just hasn't kicked in yet and that eventually, I'll see babies everywhere and start wanting to have one once my friends start popping them out in a couple years, but the thing is, I feel that I already have a maternal instinct, but not towards human babies, but instead, towards puppies or kittens (especially puppies). I'll almost always instantly go ''goo-goo eyes'' and start talking ''baby-talk'' when I see a small puppy, and I instinctively want to take care of a puppy in an ''It needs me!'' kind of way, but not when I see a baby or small child. If I hear a baby cry, it automatically makes me cringe and I just want to get away as fast as a can, same as when some of my friend ask me if I want to hold their new born kid. I really REALLY don't want to hold a newborn, since I'm clumsy as hell and dropping said baby is definately a possibility. The whole ''but they're small and cute and chubby!'' thing doesn't work with me. Also: small kids crying in a store because they're not getting what they want; I feel like punching them in the face.

I've actually worked with children for 6 years at a job I had back when I lived with my parents, and back then, I never really had problems with children, heck I even had fun taking care of them in the day-care. Near the end though, I started getting tired of the job and especially of the kids' attitudes towards other kids and how they treated their parents. I used to want to have children when I was younger than now, but with the passing of the years, the more I see kids, the less I want to have them.

My question to you guys is: is this normal behaviour? Is there something wrong with me to think this way? Do any of you guys want children later in life, or do some of you think like me? I'm curious to know what everyone thinks.

[Melfice]

Some people like brussel sprouts. Others don't.

So you don't feel the need to procreate. Good for you.
Don't let anybody tell you that's abnormal. The only thing normal between any human being is that we're all different.

[Lumenskir]

If pop culture has taught me anything, it's that you are going to have an unplanned pregnancy.

So, good luck with all that.

[Specterbane]

I know exactly how you feel Bobbey, I always assumed I'd be a dad one day. But living with my parents my Mom baby sits my niece and I help out. Now the kids have always seemed to love me, and I love them (they're family after all). But once my niece was starting to act like a three year old...I started to wonder if I really do want kids. And for that matter I've always been worried about holding babies for the same reasons.

For me, I'm not worrying about it too much. If I marry a woman that wants to have kids, I'll go for it and be the best damn father I can be. If not, that's cool too. For now I'd say give it time, you're 23 and unless you're in a serious relationship where kids are a make-or-break subject you've got plenty of time to think over it and decide what you want.

Also talk to people with kids now and see how they felt about it before they had kids, that's the best thing for you to do. Maybe you'll find that even among parents there are people who've been exactly where you're at. Don't stress about it, it's something a lot of people worry about I think.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Having children is irresponible and arrogant, succumbing to primitive biological urges like cavemen crawling in their wastes.
Fuck children. I don't see the point. Let's just outlaw them, trash the planet, go out in a blaze of glory.

[shiney]

You're only 23 anyways. You have plenty of time to decide what you want. Also I was like you when I was 23, and now that I actually have a kid I hear crying babies and I'm more like "aww" than "fucking shut your yap".

Anyways people, moods, attitudes change, and no matter what you think or feel toward children & babies, it's you and nobody should be telling you it's wrong. Unless it's wrong wrong, like "I love babies...for dinner" and then there's a whole new host of people who are going to be interested in your thought process.

Originally Posted by Smarty McBarrelpants

...children...succumbing...biological urges...Fuck children...blaze of glory.

Definitive evidence of SMB's latent pedophilia...check.

[Nique]

My question to you guys is: is this normal behaviour? Is there something wrong with me to think this way? Do any of you guys want children later in life, or do some of you think like me? I'm curious to know what everyone thinks.

I think you should do what makes you happy and be prepared for everyone to give you endless trouble about it.

My wife doesn't want kids either. Is it not normal? I guess, but that doesn't mean there's something wrong with her. Just... I dunno. Wait to have kids until that's what you actually want, and if it never is then all the better since you'll have more money for video games. I highly reccomend 'Saxophone Hero'.

[McTahr]

Fuck babies.

I have plans for at least seven consecutive vasectomies. Just chop that shit up. Not a single fuck will be given that day.

I actually have a lot of procreation rage. A lot a lot.

My extremism aside, it's fine to not want them. In fact, even beneficial in many ways. You won't be contributing to overpopulation, sacrificing your goals for the sake of another living being, shrinking your available funds in order to budget for a shrieking terror, etc.

I'm okay with adoption. Do that if you want the experience without the nine month hormonal roller coaster and crash landing.

[rpgdemon]

Originally Posted by Smarty McBarrelpants

Fuck children.

Originally Posted by McTahr

Fuck babies.

Man, this thread is just boldly going downhill as fast as it can manage.

[Amake]

It's a tired cliche how your perception changes completely the moment you get a child of your own, but I've found it to be true. So, nothing wrong with anything you're feeling at the moment as far as I know.