Parenthood is it worth it?

I woke up last weekend and decided I was going to drive 4 hours to Philly to get Amish donuts from Reading Terminal Market. Yesterday I got back home and did nothing but enjoy watching sports uninterrupted the rest of the night. Today I'm thinking of going hiking if it doesn't snow.

All these are things my best friend wanted to do but couldn't cause he is anchored down by the responsibility of being a good Dad. And that would be my worry if I ever had kids is wanting to do the best for them and how much that would take away from me being me.

Some people lead boring lives and kids tend to introduce excitement, so that might definitely be worth it for them. It's like a play doll that you have to keep alive.

I love kids but that might have something to do with the fact that I get to enjoy engaging them in limited amounts, because I have the option of giving them back to their parents and going to do other things.

For me currently, kids are not even close to being worth it.

having pets make you a parent and they replied in such a way that said they aren't ready to be parents.....read the entire thing quote.

Seriously? It doesn't.

Having kids and allowing yourself to grow as they grow makes you a parent.

Having pets makes you a pet owner, no matter how much you love your little fluffy-wuffy munchkins. Fact.

^^ Exactly

Being responsible for a tiny human is night and day compared to caring for animals. I do call them my babies, but raising children cannot compare to raising animals.

just because someone agrees with you doesn't make your right LOL neither I.

but seriously, I know people who actually care a lot about their pets......hell they even have facebooks for them.

calm down, you probably would make a bad parent anyway...I mean u kick dogs.

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.

:ohwell: 17 month old pushing impatient Mommy's buttons....

Thanks for this post. I am glad I am not alone. Right now I am toying with the "will I be a better Mommy if I only have one?" thought process...... I appreciate your honesty.

I woke up last weekend and decided I was going to drive 4 hours to Philly to get Amish donuts from Reading Terminal Market. Yesterday I got back home and did nothing but enjoy watching sports uninterrupted the rest of the night. Today I'm thinking of going hiking if it doesn't snow.

All these are things my best friend wanted to do but couldn't cause he is anchored down by the responsibility of being a good Dad. And that would be my worry if I ever had kids is wanting to do the best for them and how much that would take away from me being me.

Some people lead boring lives and kids tend to introduce excitement, so that might definitely be worth it for them. It's like a play doll that you have to keep alive.

I love kids but that might have something to do with the fact that I get to enjoy engaging them in limited amounts, because I have the option of giving them back to their parents and going to do other things.

For me currently, kids are not even close to being worth it.

In my life if I really wanted to drive 4 hours to Philly for Amish Donuts I'd would do exactly that, I'd wake up pack some bags, get a hotel room, drive the 4 hours, get the donuts, then go find some really cool stuff to do with my son, go out to whatever restaurant I want to (because we've always taken him to restaurants he's really good in them, and he'll eat anything we put in front of him), put him to bed, sit in the hallway and drink wine with my husband, wake up the next morning, do some more really cool stuff, then drive the 4 hours home. Even before kids we wouldn't be able to stay more than a night, you know because of work.

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.

We had a completely planned pregnancy, but I *hated* it, and I *hated* my daughter when she was born and about a year afterwards. There are still fleeting moments when I regret having her (she's almost 3). BUT - I had severe antenatal and post-partum depression, and it was made worse by people telling me "oh, you'll love her as soon as she's born and you look into her eyes" - because I didn't love her then.

Once I started on meds (at a year), it changed. For the most part, I wouldn't give her up for the world, but sometimes the depression triggers and I get those fleeting moments. I just remember her smiles and hugs, and it gets me through the worst parts.

long story short: even if you don't love your baby at first sight - it will come although it may take a long time...