It's one of those unanswerable things... kids vs no kids. And how you'd think about it. It's possible the kid has a major disability, or even if you want to get extreme and morbid... death and having to grieve over a lost child. It's possible the kid, which everyone determines is a product of parenting, has behaviors and resentment due to their own free will that counters your beliefs and morality systems... AKA essentially becomes a black sheep or gets disowned.

Having a kid is opening yourself up to uncontrollable and unprecedented vulnerability.

It was essential in older times, but tbh now with 8 billion people on this planet it's non-essential, akin to taking on a pet or something in that regard.

For a kidless Visel though, I'd have to probably breakup with my GF since she wants it (even if somehow she proves to be infertile or something, she'd adopt down the road). So she'd be out of the picture.

I was going to say what it would be like for all age brackets, but I think I can group them like this....

30s-50s kidless Visel - Throwing money around more without a care, riskier stock investments, living a bit like I did in my 20s all this time (selfish, focus on leisure, game during off times, drink/weed often), aiming for retirement, keeping CoL low-med over all for this purpose. Not give too much of a chit how I come across publicly.

60s+ kidless Visel - Be retired, or perhaps have been retired since late 40s or early 50s (investments make far more than my CoL). Degen continuation. Be generous with accrued wealth to fellow mankind... probably have a will that gives money to select few people I've cared for, and some charities. Plan for either a nurse for in-home care, or a nursing home in general.

Kids always. Yes expensive, yes tiring, but absolutely worth it. I got 2 boys. My only regret is not having them younger.

Everything else is cope.

I meant if you have actual skills lmfao

Keep going legend

Childless, married men I know all have dogs and/or cats with their wives. You can also sense a certain immaturity and selfishness in them.

Buy a cat, buy a dog, die alone in misery.

LOL at not being married and having kids

If you do it wrong and rush into things of course you might run into issues, but most people are impulsive, especially these days. Waving the banner of remaining single is going to become more and more difficult as you get older and your friends / family members start dying off while you age.

i have kids and it sucks

brb cry and whine all the time

brb gotta do everything for the kids

brb cant spend money on my self

brb cant go on vacations

brb they are annoying

brb they are germ bags

brb gonna give em up for adoption

Mornin' B....

I never wanted to take on that lifetime responsibility.
My home life and growing up years sucked.
I was the oldest of (4) with an alcoholic father throughout and always struggling to keep his funky jobs and pay bills.
So....I joined the military and left home at 18.

That was myperspective.
Hence, I preferred a quieter, uncomplicated, more predicatble private life.
I didn't get hitched until I was 36 (she was 25) and she agreed with my non-negotiable decision in this context.
We've been together 39 years and all is still good for us.

Having children is a huge duty and a "lifetime" of responsibility.
I wish everyone the best in taking on that life style choice in raising responsible, respectable adults in a tough world.

Back to it.

I don't have kids, and life is pretty fuking boring right now. But that still doesn't make me wish I have kids.

I don't have kids. Don't plan on it. If I don't own a business, its reckless to have a child. Job market is only get rougher as graduates pour out every year. AI will take over a lot of jobs. No guarantee of a good future for the kid.

join a big brother program

Well-said.

In all honesty having kids and knowing what it is like to, cannot really be explained to folks who don't have them.

It's similar to "I'm in love" - I know some folks who have never experienced romantic love, so they don't see the appeal of romantic relationships etc. *shrug*

Lol, boredom is only temporary. Kids are forever.

Your friends sound like miserable people. Having kids is hard work but there's so much more to it than just hard work. It also gets easier and easier as they grow up. It's not like you're going to have to do every single thing for your kid forever. All parts of their aging process has good and bad things. IMO, it's worth it.

Obviously people who don't want kids shouldn't have them and I don't think there is anything wrong with not wanting them.

I think you have to know your limits. I was one and done. That was the right thing for me. Some couples can have 5-10 kids and be happy as can be. Some couples have 2 or 3 and are overwhelmed and miserable.

For me my life would be so much emptier and meaningless without my son. I love him more than anything in this world, I would give my life for him. He is a full grown adult now and we have a great relationship. He comes over once a week for dinner and to watch our shows, we go to rock concerts together, go to the beach together, movies, etc.

i wish you were my mom

wood bang

That's groce Jeffrey!