Things That I'm Sick To Death of Hearing...

[adpimiz]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

^^^^Even better than my all-time fave "I'm moving to Canada."

YES. If you're opposed to universal health care, that is the PERFECT place for you.

I know, right?! It's all just pathetic.

[IndianaSigKap]

[QUOTE=SWTXBelle;2189033]"Can I turn my paper in late?"


I did not expect to hear this question from a college junior, let alone 3 of them.

[ADPi95]

What? You don't want children? Do you not like children?

UGH! No, we just don't want kids, but yes, we like children.

Then comes my other "favorite": Then why did you get married?

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by ADPi95

What? You don't want children? Do you not like children?

UGH! No, we just don't want kids, but yes, we like children.

Then comes my other "favorite": Then why did you get married?

When I'm asked questions like these now, I try to go for the most shocking responses.

"You don't want children? Do you not like them?"
"No, I don't. Puppies are cuter.. I think I'll get one of those."

"Then why did you get married?"
"For the tax breaks."

It's always fun to see how people respond. If it's someone I'm not too fond of (and who annoys the crap out of me), it's hilarious. I gave some kind of response like this to someone recently, and they looked at me in horror, said, "Oh.. that's nice.." and walked away.

If it's my family or friends, they usually just laugh and realize that I don't feel like discussing it.

[AOII Angel]

I just say...yes, I hate kids or I like money too much. It offends people enough to shut them up.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by adpimiz

"States have started petitions to secede from the United States.."

That gave me a WTF moment, too. Although, if Florida were to secede, I wouldn't cry any tears. No more whining about hanging/pregnant chad and 10-page ballots that no one can figure out. Best of all, my in-laws would be living in a foreign country!

Originally Posted by ADPi95

What? You don't want children? Do you not like children?

UGH! No, we just don't want kids, but yes, we like children.

Then comes my other "favorite": Then why did you get married?

Do not even START me on this one. My husband and I got married because we love each other. Just because a couple gets married does not mean they are required to breed. If that were the case, no older or infertile couples would ever marry.

[KSUViolet06]

^^^^My fave thing = You don't really think you want kids? Then why are you a teacher?

Um, you can WORK with kids yet not particularly want any of your own.

Also, not being sure if I want any of my own doesn't mean that I hate them.

Also, when I tell people I may consider adopting an older kid or teen at some point:

"But why would you want someone ELSE'S kid?"
"I could never love a kid that I didn't actually give birth to."
"But why would you want to miss out on the birth experience?"
"Why wouldn't you want a baby???"

Motherhood comes in many forms. To insist that a child "is not yours" because they're adopted is really offensive. Also, not everyone wants "the baby experience."

[GeorgiaGreek]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Also, when I tell people I may consider adopting an older kid or teen at some point:

"But why would you want someone ELSE'S kid?"
"I could never love a kid that I didn't actually give birth to."
"But why would you want to miss out on the birth experience?"
"Why wouldn't you want a baby???"

Motherhood comes in many forms. To insist that a child "is not yours" because they're adopted is really offensive. Also, not everyone wants "the baby experience."

How awful of people to say. Not only is that a terrible sentiment, but what if you happened to be adopted yourself? And why would anybody try to deter someone from doing something that is kind and compassionate to others, especially when it would help an existing problem. Older kids are far less likely to be adopted than babies and very young children, and once they age out they're just let go with nothing or very little; Why couldn't someone understand another person wanting to stop that?

"I could never love a kid that I didn't actually give birth to." Ask them if they love their dog/cat/pet. Most pet owners would say they do, and it's pretty likely they didn't birth that creature.

[ADPi95]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

When I'm asked questions like these now, I try to go for the most shocking responses.

"You don't want children? Do you not like them?"
"No, I don't. Puppies are cuter.. I think I'll get one of those."

"Then why did you get married?"
"For the tax breaks."

It's always fun to see how people respond. If it's someone I'm not too fond of (and who annoys the crap out of me), it's hilarious. I gave some kind of response like this to someone recently, and they looked at me in horror, said, "Oh.. that's nice.." and walked away.

If it's my family or friends, they usually just laugh and realize that I don't feel like discussing it.

Thanks for the all the responses (too many to quote)...made me smile! I usually respond with: "I don't have kids because I like to sleep in." And, "We got married because neither of us wanted kids!"

Kids are great...just not for me

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaGreek

How awful of people to say. Not only is that a terrible sentiment, but what if you happened to be adopted yourself? And why would anybody try to deter someone from doing something that is kind and compassionate to others, especially when it would help an existing problem. Older kids are far less likely to be adopted than babies and very young children, and once they age out they're just let go with nothing or very little; Why couldn't someone understand another person wanting to stop that?

"I could never love a kid that I didn't actually give birth to." Ask them if they love their dog/cat/pet. Most pet owners would say they do, and it's pretty likely they didn't birth that creature.

Because people are selfish assholes.

[adpimiz]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Because people are selfish assholes.

Agreed. It makes me sad that someone would say that!

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Also, when I tell people I may consider adopting an older kid or teen at some point:

"But why would you want someone ELSE'S kid?"
"I could never love a kid that I didn't actually give birth to."
"But why would you want to miss out on the birth experience?"
"Why wouldn't you want a baby???"

Motherhood comes in many forms. To insist that a child "is not yours" because they're adopted is really offensive. Also, not everyone wants "the baby experience."

My friend has also said that she might want to do the same thing one day. I'm one of the only people she talks to about this anymore, because everyone else criticizes her. Why is everyone caught up on the whole giving birth thing? Just because you can procreate doesn't mean you have to. And just because you don't doesn't mean you can't take care of a child and love it as if it were your own.

A few months ago, my mom mentioned the word "grandchildren" for the first time, and since then, it hasn't really stopped. When I say I don't want kids, she tells me I'll surely change my mind. She says, "Look at me.. your father and I didn't want kids, but here you are!" I always respond, "Yes, but when you were my age, I was nearly 2 years old." She clearly changed her mind long before she was my age now. She's still convinced I don't know what I want.

And now when we're around my aunts, if the topic of kids comes up, she always says how great being pregnant was and tries to get them to say the same... as though that's going to convince me to have kids.

Aaand.. she just met my boyfriend a couple weeks ago, and she LOVES him. She has NEVER said how much she likes my significant other while we're going out. Usually she just mentions the things she didn't like about them after we break up. This has only made the problem worse. Now she keeps peppering the words "wedding" and "marriage" into conversations. She always laughs and makes it sound like a joke, but I know part of her really wants it to happen.

She was never like this before. It's driving me crazy!

[ADPi95]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaGreek

How awful of people to say. Not only is that a terrible sentiment, but what if you happened to be adopted yourself? And why would anybody try to deter someone from doing something that is kind and compassionate to others, especially when it would help an existing problem. Older kids are far less likely to be adopted than babies and very young children, and once they age out they're just let go with nothing or very little; Why couldn't someone understand another person wanting to stop that?

"I could never love a kid that I didn't actually give birth to." Ask them if they love their dog/cat/pet. Most pet owners would say they do, and it's pretty likely they didn't birth that creature.

Ditto. I may not want kids, but if I ever did decide to be a parent, I would adopt an older child. Shame on those who think there's something wrong with that.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

A few months ago, my mom mentioned the word "grandchildren" for the first time, and since then, it hasn't really stopped.

At least my nutcase MIL waited until we were actually married. Granted, she waited for approximately five milliseconds. The ink wasn't even dry on the ketubah when she said, "Wouldn't it be nice if your grandmother [i.e. her mother] could be a great-grandmother before she DIES!!!!!" As if GMIL had one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. (GMIL passed away earlier this year. She lived to see our 13th anniversary, and she did ultimately get her great-grandchild, in the form of our cat. Her other grandchild, DH's first cousin, is childfree, as am I.)

[DubaiSis]

When it comes to babies, people say the most horrible things. I think I was let off the hook about a lot of this because 1-I got married old and 2-my husband has MS and people assume it's hereditary (it's not). I love little kids but I really didn't want the responsibility and don't regret my decision. However, as I'm getting older, I'm wishing I had grand kids in my future.