[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: moved from Main List: on not having children

[Amanda Geist]

Elkins:

> Certainly I am willing to acknowledge (quite cheerfully, too) that my
> lack of desire to have children *does* have a selfish element.  After
> all, children are *expensive.*  They require a lot of attention and a
> lot of sacrifices: sacrifices of time, sacrifices of energy,
> sacrifices of freedom and autonomy.  Sacrifices that I have
> absolutely no desire to make.
>
> I can't feel too guilty about that, though.  After all, I haven't
> gone off to India to devote my life to labor in a leper colony
> either.  I'm no saint, and I'd be doing the lepers no favors if I
> tried to pretend to be one --  much as I'd be doing no child a favor
> by pretending to be well-suited to parenthood.

(cue cheesy Infomercial music, bright bad pseudo-actor onscreen)

Act now!

You, too, can be *completely* certain you've made the correct choice! Borrow
*Amanda's* children for a couple of weeks, rent-free! Experience that
parental frustration! That lack of any spare money whatsoever for things
like a personal wardrobe, shoes, haircuts, hobbies, or outside interests!
The amazing experience of articulately arguing a point and *still* having it
ignored totally! Don't miss this opportunity to say to the world, "Yes! I
tried it, and it *does* bite!"

..etc.

~VoldeMom