Parenthood is it worth it?

I'll never have children because I don't want to give up the life of a non-parent. I decided this when I was a teen and have stuck to it.

You miss your freedom, yes... but at the same time, you mature & your priorities change. You don't want the same freedoms you had before kids. Is the tradeoff worth it? Abosultely.

I adore my boys so much. I am a divorced mother so I have some time when my boys are with their father....and I do take advantage of the time to have a bit of me time but I miss them like crazy too! And I always say all is right with the world when they're back home with me. They do put so much in perspective. As long as we're all healthy, we're good. I rarely sleep past 7, meals are not often hot when I'm with them and the saying cleaning with kids around is like shoveling during a snowstorm is very accurate....but I wouldn't trade it for the world. They have already grown so fast...and I know they will be out of the house before I know it!

Cheap entertainment. Also you get to play with toys again and no one looks at you funny.

Every day.

I didn't have my first until I was 32. I never planned on having kids because of the freedom I had. Like a previous poster stated, once you see their face and look into their eyes, it surpasses any other feeling of joy you have ever felt. There is nothing in my non-parent life that has ever compared to having my little man. He makes me laugh, and I mean belly laugh, every single day since he was born. Those laughs and his tight little hugs make parenthood totally worth it:)

The best part of having children is that one day you will have grandchildren, and that is when the fun begins!!

I love my boys and I am very happy that I had them because they made the bond with my husband much stronger. Yes, they were a pain, specially during their teens ( I am sooo happy that those days are over), but they are great human beings, husbands and fathers. So everything was worthy.

Good luck with your little one; you will fall in love as soon as he is in your arms.

I'll never have children because I don't want to give up the life of a non-parent. I decided this when I was a teen and have stuck to it.

This.

You literally cannot explain the sheer joy you feel as a parent when coming home after a long $hitty day and the minute you walk in the door your 2 year-old Screams "DADDY! (or MOMMY!) and runs full speed across the room to throw themselves at you in a big hug.

My wife and I tag-teamed a soul-crushingly long 9 months of a baby who didn't sleep through the night, switching off with the kid, first for bottles, then for crying over lost pacifiers and blankets.

None of those nights sleeping on the floor while they were teething and miserable matter when you go to leave or put them to bed and they say 'Love you Daddy, me kisses?" and "Twinkle Star Please?"

Smart *kitten*-ery aside, ;0) I'm a mom of 4 but I started young and gave up my freedom by 25. I do love my kids, but not sure I'd do that again. My husband and I only had a very few short years before our relationship went from being all about us to all about them. I think that was really the hardest part.

I *adored* my babies as babies. I was a great baby mom. Toddlers and preschoolers were tough for me because I'm not the most patient person in the world and human beings that are obstinate and unreasonable 95% of their waking hours are difficult to manage for impatient people. Now that everyone can speak in full sentences and control their bodily functions (ages 8 to 14), we get along pretty well. Although I maintain that sibling bickering is the definition of hell and I probably would have been a bang up mom if I'd stopped at one.

The sleep deprivation sucks balls but holidays are a lot more fun. Traveling will blow for a decade. I'd advise you to skip it all together and save your money for a friggin' FANTASTIC vacation when the kid turns 10 or 12. The toys are fun. Your photography will improve (because kids inherently look cute in pictures) until they hit the awkward tween stage. Go to the grocery store ALONE, even if that means you go at 1 a.m. Don't stop having sex, even if it's just quickies for the next four years. Don't buy goldfish because those g*da*n things are addictive and have 100,000 calories per handful.

I think that's it. Enjoy.

I didn't become a father (at least that I know of.....) until I was almost 40, despite the grey hairs & wrinkles caused by my kids I wouldn't change a thing.

My son turned 18 this year & my daughter will be 16 tomorrow. Watching them go from being helpless little blobs of humanity to funny, bright, articulate (sometimes too articulate), caring human beings has been the greatest adventure of my life.

We are struggling with whether to have a third (currently have 18-month-old twins), and the problem with this decision is that you can't make it logically. There is a long, long "con" list, mostly involving freedom and money and convenience, and only two things on the "pro" side:

1) Less chance you'll end up alone and neglected as an old person

2) A completely intangible thing that you cannot put into words, cannot explain to non-parents, cannot even really explain to yourself. It's totally different than anything else in my life and it's so good that it can make you consider having more even when both of your 18-month-olds are crying and you desperately need sleep and someone just pooped AGAIN. All that stuff passes. But this love, man - it's forever. And it's bigger than anything you ever imagined.

(Edited to add: I do not think everyone should have children. It's great if you're with the right person or just want children and have the love and resources to spare. I'd never tell someone that they SHOULD have children - and don't believe you need them to be happy or fulfilled - but if you're on the fence because of all those practical cons - I do say go for it.)

I'll never have children because I don't want to give up the life of a non-parent. I decided this when I was a teen and have stuck to it.

ditto. my mom actually says that while she wouldn't trade my brother or i for anything, she really wishes she didn't cave to the pressure to have kids.

Me too! My husband and I might think about it later (we're only 26 and 27 right now and wouldn't even consider it until early to mid 30's), but for right now, I can't imagine it. School, work, moving around (military). I'll stick to animals for now and just babysit my nieces and nephews! I used to get the pressure until my they came along. Now I can just spoil!

DD: "I love you Mommy."
Me: "I love you MORE".
DD: "No, I love you more."
Me: "Sweetie, you can't imagine just how much Mommy loves you until you have a baby of your own."

So worth it!