Do people on this forum have kids? Do you want kids? Hate kids? Just curious.

Me, I don't want children, although there's a slim possibility I might change my mind under the right circumstances.

I'm expecting my first child (a daughter!) in late December, and I know I want at least one more. (I responded to the poll with got some, want more even though I think I might not qualify yet.)

I've always been ok with kids. I mean I certainly don't hate them. I can't say I love them either. I think it is a semi moot point. The way I see it, YOUR kid, your personal experience raising and shaping THAT human being, will be totally different than the way you perceive other children and their parents. I know I will love my daughter, love learning with her, teaching her, seeing firsts and lasts with her, sharing my passions with her and observing as she finds her own source of enjoyment in life. To me, what does that have to do with how I look at "kids" in general?

I laughed at the 'Don't know' option.
If your a woman, it's hard to not know if you have children, but I guess if you're a man, you may have impregnated a woman and she never told you.
:?

I want to have one kid, preferably a boy. Not that I wouldn't want a girl, just want a boy more.

I have one nine year old daughter. She is enough and I will never have another. I used to abhor the idea of having kids, now I just cannot imagine life with out my daughter.

I once dated a girl with a kid. she said i would make a great father. One day i would like them, but i'm in no position to start now

Not yet/don't know. Wouldn't want any right now (I'm 18), but I'd probably want some in the future.

EmileeElectro:
I laughed at the 'Don't know' option.
If your a woman, it's hard to not know if you have children, but I guess if you're a man, you may have impregnated a woman and she never told you.
:?

Or you could be the type of person who isn't sure whether they want kids or not . . . they just don't know!!

But it is pretty funny now that I look at it.

Children are vile. I know they're just growing up and doing their thing but I'd rather they just didn't do it near me, besides the world doesn't need more people, and I'd make a terrible father, so I'm going to have to go for No and I don't want any.

One day, but not anytime soon. Maybe here in about... oh... seven years or so, I'll think about having kids, but not before then.

I don't have any children that I know of and I really hope I haven't just jinxed myself and get a child support notice in the post tomorrow.

I would like one or two kids some day. I would probably make a good father actually as I have a direct frame of reference of "what not to do" from my own.

JMeganSnow:

EmileeElectro:
I laughed at the 'Don't know' option.
If your a woman, it's hard to not know if you have children, but I guess if you're a man, you may have impregnated a woman and she never told you.
:?

Or you could be the type of person who isn't sure whether they want kids or not . . . they just don't know!!

But it is pretty funny now that I look at it.

Haha, yeah. I thought 'Don't know' was an answer to the question like;
"Do you have children?"
"Don't know."
;3

I don't have or want any. I can't stand the early phase of childhood (1-12, often older), unless a particular child is unusually intelligent and capable of learning beyond his age's expectations.

This is why despite my dislike of young children I still visit my nephew. He'll suck for another decade at least, but hopefully my moderating influence in his formative years will off-set some of the fail and AIDS inherited from his mother, father and grandparents - most likely great-grandparents too - and at the very least result in him not being a damned chav.

Keep the crotch dumplings away from me! I have no need of hideous sprog!

I want to have children when I'm older, but afraid I wouldn't be a good father.

I'd like to have a few little Emu's flitting around someday. Teach them the ways of the Zerg, and have them bend to my will as they mindlessly slave themselves for the glory of the Emumind.
But seriously.
I'd love to have kids someday. Just a matter of finding a quality woman and making sure I'm financially stable.

In my less than humble opinion, children should be locked in a closet under the stairs until they're 21 and capable of being classified as adults. Not sure where an education would fit in to that, but from what I've seen, it's not something considered important.

I'd be a fool to have children at my age.

Well, at 22 years old I might consider it a bit young.. but I'd never ever want to have children in my life. Parents are always talking about how much it's worth in the end, after having to put up with all the crap they've been through..

I really can't see past that point. To me, children are annoying little #@!$ers that cost money, ruin your nights and humiliate you when they start crying or start getting angry in a public place. That, and I'd also have to either IVF or adopt a baby. Not gonna happen either.

Ionait:
I'm expecting my first child (a daughter!)

Darth Mobius:
Christina and I expecting our first together in May. We both want a daughter...

Congratulations to both of you! Very exciting, I'm sure!

I chose the "Don't know." option, assuming it to mean that I "Don't know." if I want kids, not that I "Don't know." if I have any. I know I haven't.

Prior to getting married to my wife, she said to me, "There aren't enough good people in this world."

I quickly said with a big grin, "That's why we have to start making some!"

5 years of marriage and two boys later... :)

Rooster Cogburn:

Ionait:
I'm expecting my first child (a daughter!)

Darth Mobius:
Christina and I expecting our first together in May. We both want a daughter...

Congratulations to both of you! Very exciting, I'm sure!

I chose the "Don't know." option, assuming it to mean that I "Don't know." if I want kids, not that I "Don't know." if I have any. I know I haven't.

Dittos! Congratulations!

Mariena:
That, and I'd also have to either IVF or adopt a baby. Not gonna happen either.

I'm not, in any way, shape, or form, trying to insult you by asking you this question. However, my curiosity has got the best of me, so I have to ask:

Why would you have to have in vitro fertilization in order to bear your own children? Do you have a physical or physiological abnormality that prevents the fertilization of your eggs via sexual intercourse? Once again, as a biology student, I must know. So, your answer would be much appreciated. :P

Mariena:
Well, at 22 years old I might consider it a bit young.. but I'd never ever want to have children in my life. Parents are always talking about how much it's worth in the end, after having to put up with all the crap they've been through..

I really can't see past that point. To me, children are annoying little #@!$ers that cost money, ruin your nights and humiliate you when they start crying or start getting angry in a public place. That, and I'd also have to either IVF or adopt a baby. Not gonna happen either.

My wife was 22 when we had our first baby and her second at 25. She bounced back really fast because of her age. And half the time she's mistaken for the "au pair" or babysitter when she's out with the boys.

Ruined nights only last for a little while and it helps if you can share the load with a good partner. As for humiliating you... It only happens if they aren't disciplined.

Honestly, it all depends on your partner. Half the time people get married without ever asking, "Will they make a good father/mother for *my* kids?" That is what makes the difference - is being able to be great friends, passionate lovers, but also be able to work as a team in tackling a challenging situation together with candor, patience and with a sense of humor.

I don't have any kids (which I hope you can all attest to in court, if need be) but I'd probably want at least one later in life, maybe two.

Darth Mobius:
Wow, I thought everyone already knew on here... Darth Empyrean is my fiancee. She posts on here occasionally, too...

Rooster Cogburn:
I "Don't know." if I have any. I know I haven't.

That is such a sailor answer...

Intended as such, and glad someone caught it! Having not received my hand-delivered invitation to... whatever celebration is had for newborns, I assumed no such event was taking place. Seriously though: we're happy for you.

No thankyou. But I'm not sure whether that's because I've just gotten use to the fact I probably won't be able to, or because I generally don't want them.

I was tempted to vote "Don't know" just because it was the oddest response on the list but i chose Don't have them, might want them. I don't have any and i might want some in the future.

latenightapplepie:
No thankyou. But I'm not sure whether that's because I've just gotten use to the fact I probably won't be able to, or because I generally don't want them.

Forgive me for asking (feel free to ignore the question or PM me), but why would an 18 year old guy feel that he wouldn't be able to have kids?

Rooster Cogburn:

latenightapplepie:
No thankyou. But I'm not sure whether that's because I've just gotten use to the fact I probably won't be able to, or because I generally don't want them.

Forgive me for asking, and feel free to ignore the question, but why would an 18 year old guy feel that he wouldn't be able to have kids?

Nah, I don't mind you asking. I said 'probably' because current Australian laws prevent two men in a de facto relationship from adopting.

I'm not quite sure...I'm dating a woman who has two kids, she's really cool, but I'm only 25 and in my opinion, I'm way too young to be a Dad. I know that others have had kids and been great parents at a younger age, but for me, I'm way too young. Perhaps in the future, perhaps not, I guess I'll see. In any case, I'm happy enough to teach my friends and family's kids bad words :)

mokes310:
I'm not quite sure...I'm dating a woman who has two kids, she's really cool, but I'm only 25 and in my opinion, I'm way too young to be a Dad. I know that others have had kids and been great parents at a younger age, but for me, I'm way too young. Perhaps in the future, perhaps not, I guess I'll see. In any case, I'm happy enough to teach my friends and family's kids bad words :)

I got married at 25 and found out that we were going to have a baby right after our honeymoon.

I thought I was unprepared and not up to the task. And to be honest... Even after 5 years of marriage and another baby, I still feel that way.

But who really is up to the monumental task of being a father or a mother? If you believe you are, then you're an arrogant ass. It's the fact that you feel unequal to the task that you will demand of yourself to be better person everyday out of love.

And one day after long days and hard nights... You will find that you are.

I guess what would be reassuring to me is being finacially secure. Having enough money to be able to provide for whatever my family would need would be paramount for me to have children. Plus, I'd like to live in a country where health care was socialize (not to be political, just a personal preference), and live in a place where my children would be exposed to a large amount of different cultures. I guess I would want to raise children with absolutely everything that I didn't have, in every way!!!