tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post5683822401038495344..comments2023-10-29T08:17:42.840-07:00Comments on Childfreedom: A Pile of Parental Smugness Under the Christmas TreeChildfreeeeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01776614837813912148noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-76490422183792983672010-01-17T02:16:19.309-08:002010-01-17T02:16:19.309-08:00I was thinking the same thing. Also, since homose...I was thinking the same thing. Also, since homosexuality occurs in nature (in the animal kingdom), the argument that it is "unnatural" is not valid. And let's not forget that we, as childfree people - are also seen as "unnatural" by many for not taking part in procreation. It's a process that we have all the natural parts for, and (according to those who believe Childfreeeeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01776614837813912148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-63861570701094513152010-01-10T23:34:46.985-08:002010-01-10T23:34:46.985-08:00I just found your blog from an old Penelope Trunk ...I just found your blog from an old Penelope Trunk post. So nice to see a comment I could actually relate to! (After reading the one about how people that don't want kids are just selfish people who shouldn't procreate anyway, blah, blah, blah . . .) Nice to come here and not feel like I have to strangle someone.<br /><br />My husband is much like yours, really enjoys playing with our Retired Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14826873538970471960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-47437513517533002332010-01-07T15:10:31.036-08:002010-01-07T15:10:31.036-08:00You really do win!You really do win!Fanboy Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03543885221904172330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-89010766506153363972010-01-04T23:41:01.207-08:002010-01-04T23:41:01.207-08:00My partner has the same talent with our friends...My partner has the same talent with our friends' children and people have often told him he would make a good parent. He disagrees - just because you are able to give an hour or two of unfettered energy to a child who is not your own, doesn't mean you would be always have that energy. The very reason he has that to give, is probably because he isn't a parent! As for being worth it, Paula Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02181466382764440710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-31545406420260964392010-01-02T02:39:58.538-08:002010-01-02T02:39:58.538-08:00Who knows how such comments are really intended? I...Who knows how such comments are really intended? Is it a better-than-thou claim? Do the parents view the time childfree siblings get to have fun with their children as "charity" to "poor poor childless" couples?<br /><br />If they see the joy in a child's face as a dividend for a long term investment, and that the childfree are not making that investment but get to share Wag the Doghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06523201507972211984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-42073990405441968272009-12-30T15:59:39.300-08:002009-12-30T15:59:39.300-08:00My brother says this to me, too. Most of the time ...My brother says this to me, too. Most of the time I think it means, "Please, please stop thinking I am a complete and total idiot for having and keeping these wretched beasts." Less often it means, "Please consent to have some of these because we have no girls and we would like to experience that vicariously through you." I now see how it can be used for smugness, though. I Christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00469912352453659215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-37503821852130261662009-12-28T16:52:14.632-08:002009-12-28T16:52:14.632-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-20964336118656218272009-12-28T12:26:06.970-08:002009-12-28T12:26:06.970-08:00Given that you say the comment was 'obviously ...Given that you say the comment was 'obviously for your benefit' I'm guessing there are other family dynamics involved so in that situation I can believe the smugness aspect.<br /><br />Absent that inside knowledge however I don't think I would take such a comment to be smug or judgmental in any way. More like redwings19 said, just a moment of thinking out loud. <br /><br />If I Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10744988620717201253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-40267617473853503182009-12-28T12:21:09.423-08:002009-12-28T12:21:09.423-08:00I would have asked innocently, "Makes WHAT al...I would have asked innocently, "Makes WHAT all worthwhile, Ron?"<br /><br />The older I get, the more I realize that if an activity isn't inherently rewarding (yeah, I like the endpoint, flowers, but I also get into digging in the dirt and being outdoors, so gardening itself is fun), it's probably not worth the effort. <br /><br />Waiting around for a payoff doesn't erase fireflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08288800598812287691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-34184417457568770452009-12-28T06:50:27.409-08:002009-12-28T06:50:27.409-08:00I actually look forward to my brother having child...I actually look forward to my brother having children so I can enjoy them.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13646695542116530854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-70520164285813134642009-12-27T22:30:16.094-08:002009-12-27T22:30:16.094-08:00I think you could have responded in a way which wo...I think you could have responded in a way which would have pleased yourself without having it sound like a smackdown.<br /><br />"Well, [hubby and] I are getting just as much enjoyment from this moment as you."<br /><br />The first part of what you wanted to say would have been enough to get that point across without it appearing snarky.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05503978839912338538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-22193797942732288682009-12-27T15:18:38.642-08:002009-12-27T15:18:38.642-08:00It kind of sounds like he was trying to prove some...It kind of sounds like he was trying to prove something to himself...like he doesn't quite believe it either!CFVixenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00777723818313211020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-31276045714670001982009-12-27T09:53:01.276-08:002009-12-27T09:53:01.276-08:00It could be that his comment reflects your brother...It could be that his comment reflects your brother doing his own convincing that he loves being a father. To say "this is what makes it all worth it" can reveal an undertone of unspoken regret....which most parents are unwilling to admit, but are more willing when they can do it anonymously...! ~L www.lauracarroll.comfamilyof2https://www.blogger.com/profile/01223238256168057512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-78368876927360167472009-12-27T09:43:38.020-08:002009-12-27T09:43:38.020-08:00So giving up money, leisure time, sex and energy A...So giving up money, leisure time, sex and energy ALL the time are worth a few moments of seeing your kid laugh? Doesn't sound like a fair trade to me.<br /><br />My hat's off to you for keeping your mouth shut. I wouldn't have been able to, but I think it was the right thing to do at that moment. :)Zazzuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16984406076982323938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-85494112225615713722009-12-26T21:41:49.706-08:002009-12-26T21:41:49.706-08:00while I agree with you (and experience the EXACT s...while I agree with you (and experience the EXACT same thing each holiday), it could be one of those "thinking out loud" moments our siblings have. your brother could have been too tired to think and didn't realize it was a thought that should have been an "interior" thought. I know my sister is at that point with her kids. <br /><br />Happy Holidays!redwings19https://www.blogger.com/profile/10181928000013448805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6155688048560818982.post-77109998346500025162009-12-26T17:10:16.680-08:002009-12-26T17:10:16.680-08:00"it will be just a blink of an eye before tha..."it will be just a blink of an eye before that adorable, giggling toddler will be a sullen, backtalking teenager. We'll see who's feeling smug then."<br /><br />Amen! I wonder who the kid'll be confiding in though, when he's a disgruntled teen and sick of his parents?...probably childfree auntie and uncle ;-)flamencokittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665114298186254835noreply@blogger.com