Tick Tick Tick
 

I'm getting married in about three weeks to my wonderful girlfriend of three years. I must admit I'm a little worried though. I'm not sure how I feel about having kids, but sometimes at night; when I lie there next to her, I can hear her womb tick.

We are both a couple years from thirty, first wedding for both, and we both managed to be resposible throughout our teens and twenties.

I'm not opposed to having children, I'm just honestly scared to death of screwing them up.

Micah

Ahhh, women can have kids well into their 40s. Although she may want to consult with an OB/GYN about this, it seems though more and more people are waiting longer. Personally I can't understand how anyone not born into a millionaire trust fund can afford to have kids in their 20s (or even in their 30s in a lot of cases) anyway. . .

I'm on board with that. I get out of Uncle Sam's canoe club (the navy) in a little over a year, so there are big changes coming down the pike as well. We've talked about it, and she understands the need for me to be settled into a new career and stable before I want to consider it. She's not evil about it, it's just very obvious sometimes. On the upside, she supports the Porsche habit and the salmon fishing, so I'm sure we will work this one out too.

Micah

Incidentally NOT in the trust fund category. Dad's a retired Air Force Enlisted man, mom's a nurse. I would have no idea what to do if I came into that kind of money.

From what I've read recently, the US birthrate is about 2.08 per couple; below the 2.1 "required" to maintain the population. Don't bet the farm on those numbers, but it's what I recall.

I think it's even lower in "old" Europe. And folks on both sides of the pond are waiting until much later in life to have kids, b/c they're not the "free labor" they used to be a few generations ago; they're damned expensive and, frankly, provide a wide open door for even more government intrusion into, and regulation of, your life.

JP

Edit -- ledhed, if you come into that kind of money, PM me. I've got some ideas I think you'll like.

Despite the fact that many of us disagree on many things here in PPOT, I submit we are, compared to the rest of the population, above average in intelligence and influence.

Thus it behooves us to breed early and often, if only to fight off that ever-widening shallow end of the gene pool. It's starting to look like an endless kiddie pool out there, folks.

Some people simply learn to manage with the money they do have. While we are on the money subject, How did your parents possibly manage to afford you? Assuming they are not millionaires......

Micah,

First of all, you are still youngsters. Plenty of time biologically, even for her. Secondly, you are displaying the best sign of a prosperous fatherhood - being afraid you won´t do as a father. Trust me, as a pediatrician and father of 4+2, the one and only thing kids really need is the love and affection of their parents. You will not screw them up by a long shot - but they tend to screw you up from time to time. ;)

Bluesky,

Am I living by your thesis yet ? :D

I have 2, a boy and a girl.

I waited a couple of years and had the big "V" done after the last was born.

Now, all I do is practice, although I don't really think I'll forget how to but it sounds like a good excuse to the wife and I still have only 2 kids.

I absolutely agree, people have kids for themselves, not for the kids. So when you force existance upon someone, you damn well better give them every opportunity to enjoy it.

None they have been able to prove, at least yet...

Thanks for the kind words, now I just have to convince her that there's no rush. I suppose I'll just see how the career change goes and keep an open dialogue with her about it. Right now I'll just get the wedding out of the way!

Micah

Good luck ! Unfortunately, women who start to feel its time for a baby seem to be miserable waiting. ;)

I count 146 children in total. Come on guys - there must be more among the 38k members !! This only comes to 1.7 kids per adult.

Step up and vote!

Some of us might take exception to being categorized as "adult" here. Others might simply be undeserving of the title. ;)

Good point, Jeff.

In this poll my definition of adult would be the biological age where its possible for the woman to get pregnant - say from twelve or something.. ;)

2 girls

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1153489519.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1153489766.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1153489784.jpg

With their mum they have got me wrapped around their fingers.

I am happy man!

I can see how they would, Matteo. Lovely girls !

And, in the third pic, would that be your well developed gastrocnemius muscle ? Hey, even Ryan would be envious of that ! :D

Ha!... no that is my dad... The girls are staying in Italy for the Summer, at my mum and dad's little place in Tuscany.

Whilst I am here working hard! I am going to join them soon.
My wife is English and so the Summer is the time to go and see the granparents.

3 boys, twins at 22 that required Medical assistance to be conceived, and a surprise 21 year old. (Didn't think we could do it without assistance. Boy, were we wrong!)

FWIW, I spent the first 15 years of adulthood not particularly wanting kids, but a new wife convinced me to go for it. Couldn't have made a better decision...