I don't know The Prez's reasons, I can only go by what is known here about him. Private schooling, rich parents, frequent trips to Vegas, partying in LA nightclubs ... that's a fun life for a single guy. When that guy tries to pigeonhole all parents in a manner, though, that's where I have to laugh about it, and try to find out underlying issues. I know that some people have horrible upbringings and become great parents, and that some people have terrific upbringings and decide not to become parents.
true, sometimes it doesn't matter about parents/upbringing in regards to the QUALITY of parent you can be. But I think it does matter in whether or not SOME people want to be parents (like my cousin). For me, the idea of partying in LA night clubs (or any night clubs), tips to Vegas, etc, hasn't appealed to me in 15 years. I don't fault him IF that's what genuinely appeals to him. But the idea of having a family doesn't appeal to me either. Not because of the reasons El Prez had laid out (I find those reasons to be very stupid to be honest), but just because I don't have the drive to have a family anymore. Hard to explain.
Vegas and all that get boring after awhile. Times change. I think it's more of an LA state of mind. There is less emphasis on family and kids and more emphasis of enjoying oneself hoop fam
People that don't want kids, and realize it, don't bother me at all. The people I referenced earlier, who literally call their dogs or cats their "kids", and talk about them as their kids, automatically go on my Weirdo List, though. I have a dog and cat too. We put the dog in a travel kennel all day while we're at work, and if we leave town for a weekend, we leave the cat in the house with a food timer, a big bucket of water, and a fresh pan of kitty litter. The dog either comes with us and rides in the back of the Escalade without a seatbelt, or we pay to have him stay with strangers in a kennel. I wonder what would happen if we did either with our girls?
Jumping back into this late and I know this thread went a different way but . . .. that is totally the way to go (taking kids out of school). And do it early and often because by middle school it's tougher to take them out of school for a week. Disneyland, I know exactly what you are talking about, night and day when it is holiday or break time vs. during regular school time. Also if you can travel last minute, there are deals to be had out there.
Another interesting thought in all this is if you decide to have kids, when is the best time. Kids take energy and people tend to have more energy in their younger years. Also if you have kids early, you get the family experience but probably get your life back when you are young enough to enjoy it. But raising kids takes patience and maturity. Also being finically stable can take a lot of stress out of the parenthood experience. That would tend lean towards having them latter in life. Each person is going to be different. In my book, being unselfish is one of the biggest parts to be a good parent . . . and I seem to become less selfish as I get older. I figure by the time I'm 102 years old, I'll be ready.
I feel like we've had this conversation before. El Prez loves his perpetual single life and the people who have kids love their kids obviously. What are we trying to convince each other of? Am I missing something?
Shoot. Almost forgot. We DID take the kids to Orlando and then Miami for a total of 10 days at the start of December. That was a fun trip. Spent the entire time in the pool or on the beach, pretty much.
Yeah both sets are here (well, my father-in-law passed a few months back). Papa, did you grow up in the area?
Actually, he likes it more than running around the yard freaking out all day when people walk by with things to throw. Dogs can go to a quiet state, and he's a lab, so of course I run his ass off for an hour every night when I get home. Kennel = no complaints from neighbors. Roaming the yard = barking at people because he's afraid we're not home. For a lab, not kenneling your dog is mean, because all they want to do is chase things, and the second you get home, you take them to run.
I grew up in Seattle, then Montana. My wife's from Ashland, so we settled in PDX after college. My mom's in Missoula, my brother is still in Seattle, and wife's mom is in Ashland in the summer, Bend in the winter.
I will be going to Spring Training too. I probably travel twice as much since having our kids. As with anything, having kids the right way can be a beautiful thing and can be a nightmare for the clueless.
Same. I didn't really travel much (aside from a lot of road trips that could take me anywhere as far north as Vancouver, BC or as far south as San Francisco) until I began dating the future wife. We've actually traveled more since having kids (most of the time, the kids have come along, but with school, this year has been a bit different). Are you going to follow a particular team at Spring Training? Going to a particular city? Or just all over?
Ashland is a cool, but beautiful town. Great place to spend some summer days - there's a lot to do outdoors, and it's just cool strolling the town. You guys spend much time there in the summer?
