Not wanting kids

[JonnyVTEC]

Squiggs said:

To take this thread in a slightly different direction .....
For those 'older' people that decided they didn't want children - has anybody considered how much they pay in taxes (in one form or another) that they don't really get their moneys worth from ?????

A childless couples still have to pay towards ...
Schools - teachers, dinners, school transport, crossing assistants, etc.
NHS - post natal, anti natal, inoculations, kids visiting GP's, etc.
Libraries - all those books in the kids section.
Refuse collection - got a house capable of housing kids, you get charged for it.
Recreational facilities - playgrounds, skateboard parks etc.
Policing - all those teenage tear-aways.

Childless couples support all the above (and more) without ever needing the services.

I would think that if every couple in the land had kids and everybody needed all the services then everyones current level of taxation contributions would have to rise (considerably)

So should childless couples be applauded for their financial support?

Do these kids retire at 16 or something? They in turn should contribute back into the system for a further 40 years.

No jobs for teachers? You'll have to pay job seekers and benefits to them anyway.

What a load of twaddle.

[BlackVanDyke]

god'sunwantedkid said:

The world is over populated.

Agreed. So adopt: become a parent and improve a child's life without burdening the planet with any additional occupants.

[fridaypassion]

I was one that was totally anti kids til I hit 30 then the Mrs' body clock kicked in and we had a daughter. TBH it's been great it broadens your horizons a bit, I would echo other comments about it teaching you patience, being less self centred etc. There's never a dull moment and I do remember times before the sprog when you feel you maybe have to much time on your hands well that's a thing of the past!

One other important thing I think comes into play for blokes especially is having kids is a massive motivator for your work. Before the kid I had major anxiety about finances with losing the wifes income etc. It's been a major boost and I wish I could have seen myself 3 years down the line a lot better off and it's all down to having that motivation.

I'm not so keen on having another though. I think things are quite hard enough for kids these days in terms of opportunities. I'd rather the one we have gets all the opportunities we can afford her.

[seapod]

graphene said:

http://fullfact.org/articles/households_contributo...

http://www.cps.org.uk/files/reports/original/12100...

Now that makes interesting reading.

For me it raises two points

1 Whichever way you cut it the current welfare system is unaffordable and clearly unsustainable, especially when you factor the ageing demographic - retiring baby boomers, the post baby boom generation X (1968-1982) demographic which is proportionately smaller due to low birth rates and on whom the greatest tax burden is now falling and the more recent rise in birth rate of Generation Y or the 'millenials'.

2 the proportion of net recipients is too high. This is both inefficient and costly. Too many are taxed and then receive this money back in tax credits and other (usually child related) benefits. While this system creates jobs it is clearly inefficient. Better to keep it simple and have a lower cap for benefits full stop.

Oh, and it clearly demonstrates that net contributors are least likely to have a high number of dependants. This doesn't bother me other than when people who have large numbers of children somehow feel they are making a special contribution to the economy. Have children, as many as you wish, just make sure you have the means to pay for them.

[King Herald]

Kneetrembler said:

Does this mean more and more days/weeks offshore now, or or more time spent away in the Hotrod ?

More time spent in the garage. Btter to go there before the red mist descends though.

BlackVanDyke said:

god'sunwantedkid said:

The world is over populated.

Agreed. So adopt: become a parent and improve a child's life without burdening the planet with any additional occupants.

Part of the reason we only have one child. I see no point, no reason, no logic in having four, or six.

Six is the average where we live, in a dirt poor turd world country. It was 8 until about 10 years ago, now common sense seems to have overtaken the catholic churches mission to overpopulate the planet.

[BlackVanDyke]

King Herald said:

Kneetrembler said:

Does this mean more and more days/weeks offshore now, or or more time spent away in the Hotrod ?

More time spent in the garage. Btter to go there before the red mist descends though.

BlackVanDyke said:

god'sunwantedkid said:

The world is over populated.

Agreed. So adopt: become a parent and improve a child's life without burdening the planet with any additional occupants.

Part of the reason we only have one child. I see no point, no reason, no logic in having four, or six.

Six is the average where we live, in a dirt poor turd world country. It was 8 until about 10 years ago, now common sense seems to have overtaken the catholic churches mission to overpopulate the planet.

The reason is historical: you needed to have 4 or 6 or so to get reasonable odds of at least 1 reaching adulthood. Of course that's not the case any more but it's become deeply ingrained all over the world, to aspire to a big family rather than it being associated with the poverty and overcrowding it more often brings.

[Cotty]

Squiggs said:

To take this thread in a slightly different direction .....
For those 'older' people that decided they didn't want children - has anybody considered how much they pay in taxes (in one form or another) that they don't really get their moneys worth from ?????

A childless couples still have to pay towards ...
Schools - teachers, dinners, school transport, crossing assistants, etc.
NHS - post natal, anti natal, inoculations, kids visiting GP's, etc.
Libraries - all those books in the kids section.
Refuse collection - got a house capable of housing kids, you get charged for it.
Recreational facilities - playgrounds, skateboard parks etc.
Policing - all those teenage tear-aways.

Childless couples support all the above (and more) without ever needing the services.

I would think that if every couple in the land had kids and everybody needed all the services then everyones current level of taxation contributions would have to rise (considerably)

So should childless couples be applauded for their financial support?

Don't forget single people. They also contibut to the above.

[croyde]

I'm 50 now and I have a 13 year old girl and boys 10 and 7. I seriously think that I'm too old for this as I'm getting cranky and can't stand the noise and the mess. A mate of mine had his first at 18 so he is now my age with a 24, 26 and a 31 year old as well as 2 grand kids. He is still with his missus and they enjoy great holidays and hobbies, like owning a large sailing boat.

I do think that if you are going to have kids it is best, for yourselves, to have them when you are still young.

I'll be 60 and probably still be supporting all 3 of mine. Just think of it, 60 years old with a 17, 20 and 23 year old still knocking around the house.

I was 'persuaded' by the now ex wife to have kids and currently my life is a mess

[Rawwr]

For all the people saying they didn't realise how awesome it'd be having kids, it's a bit of a one-way process and not like you can shove them back in if you decide they're not for you.

[soapystick]

They freak me out. When people at work turn up with their darlings, your expected to show a keen interest and start babbling rubbish like "oooh he's grown hasn't he?" and all that jazz.

I just don't care. I can't wear a fake smile when all i want to do is leave the room.

[TameRacingDriver]

soapystick said:

They freak me out. When people at work turn up with their darlings, your expected to show a keen interest and start babbling rubbish like "oooh he's grown hasn't he?" and all that jazz.

I just don't care. I can't wear a fake smile when all i want to do is leave the room.

That's what I do, leave the room, or ignore them. To be fair most people know me better than to expect me to start cooing over their toddler, even my friends who have them know where I stand on the subject

I just think some people don't have any maternal instinct whatsoever, and speaking from my point of view, much like yourself, its difficult to hide it.

[vixen1700]

Never wanted kids, didn't want the worry, didn't want the stress or the responsibility.

[Gusanita]

soapystick said:

They freak me out. When people at work turn up with their darlings, your expected to show a keen interest and start babbling rubbish like "oooh he's grown hasn't he?" and all that jazz.

I just don't care. I can't wear a fake smile when all i want to do is leave the room.

I'm the same.. But I'm really good at feigning interest for a minute or two. Problem is they (children, babies) love me, I seem to attract them and end up sat at the kids table.

But, I have a daughter and it's completely different with her. Your own are very different to those of other people.

[Claret Badger]

Im nearly 40 and still do not have a desire to have kids. I have a friend who is married and they have decided against it, and he says he is constantly having to defend his choice against those who think he must be weird etc. How many people would have kids if it wasn't just the normal/acceptable thing to do? A lot less Id imagine.

Ive noticed as I get older how kids today are treated as if they are somehow better or more important than other people. When on the tube as a kid, if I was seated, I would be told to stand and give my seat to an adult. These days it seems adults give up their seats for kids. Through Facebook, proud parents can bombard the rest of us with pictures of their offspring, normally accompanied by one of three words; cute, gorgeous or adorable. Its things like this which actually make me more anti. I just hate the smugness and the constant pointless photos and accompanying text. It winds me up, and I imagine a lot of other childless people.

Ive also noticed a lot of female friends say in their late 20's that they wont ever have kids. Then come 35 they all do.

And don't get me started on Baby on Board stickers...

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Claret Badger said:

And don't get me started on Baby on Board stickers...

I like kids, and I've got kids, but the Baby on Board stickers really grate me.

Even though I have kids, I'd love to get one that said "Please plough into the back of me, I'm totally sterile and therefore my life is of no value anyway."

[James_N]

Mr Pies said:

Can't stand children, definitely dont want them, would not date a woman with children.

Im firmly in this camp im afraid. Dont like them, dont want them. I know plenty of people with kids and its just hard work, hassle and expense. Most of them are little sts too but im sure their parents would say they are little darlings

Nor do I want to get married. Infact working in mental health (where the majority of staff esp the females) are just as mental as the patients we look after, I have come to the conclusion I will be happy on my own forever!!

[benjj]

I've just thought one one cool thing about having kids;

That moment when you arrive sideways into Waitrose on Saturday morning in some gnarly million horsepower car and snaffle a parent and child spot rigt by the door.

Some bearded hippy will always stare over just at the moment I grab some little wailing dude from the back seat.

fk you hemp trousered vegi , I've got a fking kid.

Yes, I've been drinking heavily.

[Ace-T]

Rach* said:

Absolutely not, do not want!

You and me both, sister!

Luckily I haven't found too many people who have said they think I am strange for not wanting kids (breeding/spawning/whelping/calving/stting a live one/dropping a sprog/)*. I have known since I was 12 I didn't want any. One of my sisters is the same, the other sister has enough maternal instinct to make up for us both (she has 3)

• *merely said to annoy el Stovester.

Trace

[Herbie58]

For those of you who are with women who say they don't want kids - assume this will change. Unless your OH is over 35 and saying that, its highly likely the clock will start ticking soon enough........tick...tick....tick (that's the sound of your freedom, bank balance and ability to sleep dropping btw).

[J3JCV]

Crikey blimey this is a miserable thread, I'm sure it started off ok, but now I just think people need to lighten up a bit about their situation.