Comic Strips

I don't have kids but I still like to wonder about where planes are going

Some people get easy babys.

And then there are the people who get to be parents of ever-screaming high energy high need children.

One must understand that the hormones which motivate breeding instinct in social mammals override all other considerations on a neurochemical level when someone has a baby--if those hormones and emotional systems are working correctly.

(Sometimes they aren't, after all; everyone knows those statistical outlier individuals who stick out like a sore thumb for having no parental instincts.)

If a common-sense-overriding mechanism were not in place to drive reproduction, a species will go extinct.

I didn't really want kids, but my wife did, so we compromised and had 6.

Jokes aside I found it super fulfilling, I had struggled a lot with depression and feeling like everything was pointless, but raising kids gives me a purpose and makes mudane stuff like work feel meaningful. I definitely get what the comic is talking about, it's rough a lot of the time, but it was what I unexpectedly needed in my life.

Humans were never meant to take care of babies as couples or alone.

Research suggests that given the tradeoffs of our evolutionary path, we had to shift towards a collective parenting (call it tribe, clan, extended family, etc.)

The modern "individualization" of the person is what has convinced us that such parenting form is "normal" and bearable, and that if you feel overwhelmed, there is something wrong with you.

Doesn't Ruth know you can reuse the same glass instead of getting a new glass every time you want more wine

Father for 12 years here, never have I ever said anything even remotely close of this sort to any my non kids / single friends, is it an American thing?

The best birth control is other people's children.

Honestly as a father I agree that being a parent is the hardest thing I've done in my life but, I'm also so fucking tired of the "it's hell" joke.
My older dughter is now a teenager with all the trouble that entails and the selfishness she has but still there are no words to describe how much she helps when needed, how hard of a pilar she is to me, how caring and loving she is....

Oh wait there is one...

Family

Nuclear families are intentionally isolating because it makes women and children more vulnerable.

I would recommend reading the Baby decision to people. It's a very open minded examination, despite what the title might implicate also very open and supportive for childless/childfree mindset. Even touches topics like, just because you like kids, doesn't mean you have to have them, you can teach, volunteer for after school activities, etc.

I think the single most important take away from it is that whether you decide to have kid(s) or not, you give something up.

You also have to go into it responsibly and it's also okay to reevaluate as you go along, e.g. just because you wanted 3 kids before getting married, doesn't mean you can't take a moment to reevaluate after the first if you still want that.

I absolutely adore my kiddo and find meaning in my role as a dad that I did in very few other things I've done in life.

That said, it definitely does change your life in a way where you will not be able to prioritize the things that are just for you anymore. I am both deeply happy to have become a parent and simultaneously very glad that my wife and I waited and got our finances in order and traveled and lived our life as a couple for almost a decade before we decided to be parents. For parents whose story wasn't quite as deliberate, I can imagine a lot of conflicting feelings.

Meh, there’s enough of a biological drive to have children there’s no need to pressure people into it socially. It’s condescending to assume someone else will follow your same “growth” trajectory.

About to be 43 and more grateful every year that my partner and I are childfree. I like hanging out with my friend's kids occasionally, they can be funny tiny humans, but I hit a limit quickly and we invariably share a sigh of relief once we're in the car on our way home.

I'm also grateful that there are folks who love kids and are great, involved parents to them. I'm in awe of my friend's ability to be the mom she is and I appreciate her efforts to better the collective group of humanity by two. Even more grateful that I was free to make a different choice. It takes all kinds, ya know? And kids benefit from unofficial "aunties", I think.

when I see a cute baby smile at me, its like a sims moodlet. "I need one of those. Why dont I have one of those". After 24 ish hours I remember babysitting and caring for my sibling and cousin, and quickly go back to normal. 30 and childless.

Naw, kids are great fun

Offtopic, but after reading these comments, I'm so glad I first opened Lemmy today rather than Reddit. Thoughtful, varied discussion, instead of sifting through a ton of samey "joke" comments to maybe (if ever) find some nugget of humanistic or original thought, or get bored, doomscrolling and lose hope in humanity.

I just love this community, thank you all for being here.

I feel like this cartoon was drawn by someone who doesn't have kids. Or didn't want them but got them.

Be fulfilled without kids or with them. Don't be fulfilled by judging those who have chosen different from you.

No shit. Raising kids is an act of love and sacrifice.

If you aren't willing to do this, do NOT have kids!

I would be absolutely destroyed if I had dumb little copy of me that I was required to take care of.

I understand now why my dad was so distant and eventually went away.

Having an insane mother helps, too.