Can you drop everything at a notice and just go anywhere, do anything you want? If you want to stay home and just lay in bed and fuck around town all day by yourself, can you? Or do you have to take your kids to soccer practice? Do you have to take them to school? Do you really have to go to another stupid birthday party for other spoiled entitled brats when you'd rather be chillin. That's being tied down.
Ha! Pres I used to feel the same way you do.......when I was 20. Having kids is tough, but you can't put a value on watching my son hit his first 3 pointer or when I get home from a long ass road trip and my daughter has a drawing she made me sitting at my desk. Kids aren't for everybody, but don't knock it til you see your child take his first steps.
See, people like to talk about the highlights, but I think that's probably only less than 1% of all total activities. The rest of the time is just constant maintenance, care, and watching over when you could be doing something else.
Well, and the time as well. Like I said, instead of constantly watching, overseeing and making sure your kids don't burn your house down or get pregnant...how fun is that? Maybe when kids are young its all good, but when they get older and they get their own shit, they start hating you and rebelling..that must suck balls.
To this first part it is easy you offset the joy of the word daddy with season tickets. The later is more complicated which is why I advocate for adoption and parents in their 40's, people in their 40's are generally more financially stable and have had a chance to experience some of the world, provided of course they have not been saddled with kids. I think this combination allows for the freedom needed for happiness at a young age and the comfort of family when your old.
It's also a societal shift. A couple of generations ago, that 350k or equivalent was your downpayment on not living off ramen noodles in a crappy apartment or halfway house when you got too old to work. Kids would take care of parents. Nuclear families were strong. Now, (am I'm not saying anyone here would ) you don't have to worry about it, because the government makes sure that you can blow that 350k on yourself traveling or whatnot, and the other 300M people in the country will take care of you--which means that instead of being homeless and starving on the street you'll have ramen noodles in an old folks' home somewhere.
In all honesty here, my youngest is a senior at Oregon State, 22 and one of my best friends. He was a joy to raise and now I'm just getting over "empty nesting syndrome" which I never thought I'd have. I was wrong there. There's a lot of joy to parenting and it's worth it if you can afford to do it and make an effort. I think getting married when I was 35 balanced out single life, travel and parenthood. I worry when I see teen parents. That's a recipe for disaster in my opinion.
We're still talking couples, though. You're tied down when you're in a relationship, much of it's just in different ways. Call me a bad father..... cuz pretty much...... I do what I want. I do go fuck around town all the time. Sometimes by myself, but I actually kinda have more fun with my older daughter with me. Sometimes, I chill in bed and watch TV all day. It's actually better with one or both of my kids chillin'. Practices...... Mom and grandma take them. Sometimes, I want to go and I go. School? Sorry, dude. I don't get this one. My daughter's school is on the way to work. And, I consider it a reward. Sure, the stay-at-home soccer mom's rollin' in their $80-$100K cars is kind of annoying, but I've never seen so many beautiful, in-shape women in yoga pants in my life. My daughter didn't go to school today - color me quite disappointed, honestly. As for money, I spend a lot of money on myself (and the house). Just bought a ton of stuff for myself, actually (I'm not going to list it all because, one, I don't want to come off as bragging; and two, I don't trust you stiffs here not to try to jack my shit). Meh. I think it's all in perspective and personality. To each his own. I'm a big kid. So, if I'm going to be "tied down", there are plenty of times I'd rather spend it doing kid things with my kids than being grown up with the wife.
You know the NFL is struggling somewhat with attendance because people are finding it more entertaining and comfortable to stay at home, avoid the chaos of the parking lots and expensive food and big crowds? I had season-tickets onc season to the Blazers. It was far more work than it's worth, IMO. For others, they probably love it.
To me, it's like what the grandma said in the movie, "Parenthood". Some people like the merry go round (which I would say is more like couples without kids) and some people like roller coasters (which I would say is more like couples with kids). As a father of 4 with kids ages 10-14, I prefer roller coasters, especially ones with steep drops, high rises, and a lot of loop de loops.
As time goes by, I have come to realize I would if I could trade my kids in for a new and improved model. But Grand kids are the best I can do. Dang! My grand kid are great and you can't get those without paying the dues.
Its all about the housespouse yo, if you got a good one they take care of all that shitty shit like its their job. Which it kinda is
