Description
This article is from the Good Things About
Having Kids FAQ, by Benjamin V.C. Collins,
collins@campus.mlc.edu with numerous contributions by others.
44 Good Having Kids Answer
[Here's an offshoot thread on the same topic.]
This has been a truly delightful thread on misc.kids and I've noticed that
various other people have enjoyed it, too. For someone like me, though,
who is still sitting on the fence of decision about whether to have
children or not, this is not only great fun to read, but really *needed*.
For years, I have tried to get parents to tell me the specifics of why
they like having kids, but it has been very hard to get answers that were
something I could understand. Since I don't have kids, I don't really
understand what I consider to be extreme statements like "my children are
angels" or "If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't!" (said by more than
one parent who has more than one child--truly puzzling to me). However, I
*can* imagine the joy in having a little one look up at you with
wonderment as he puts his hand in yours or the baby who gives you a great
big smile just when you need it most or the older child who is all excited
by the book you gave her for Christmas that was *just* what she wanted.
Since I am the youngest in my family, I have very little experience with
children, particularly babies and toddlers. I'm not *bereft* of
experience, but sure no expert, either! There are lots of kids in my new
neighborhood and I do make a point of getting to know as many as possible,
but most of them are 7 year old girls or 10-12 year old boys, so my
knowledge is heavily slanted. They are also not interested in the level
of interaction that approaches what one has with a family member, much
less a parent. (These kids and I have gardened, talked--both silly and
serious, played cards and gone sledding together, but it is still highly
limiting.)
Thank you in advance for any more stories, even if you have already
posted on this topic. Please, though, no flames for being indecisive on
this issue!
--Nancy Reynolds
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children, child, kid, goodness, responsibility, sacrifice
