Having Kids - This could be bad....
 

So, now that my wife is just about finished with her R.N. degree and has been promised a job by her supervisors at our hospital, she's really starting to mention the idea of having kids. Which I think I'm okay with. But I started to think about when I was a pre-teen and teenager, and it really makes me sick. Not just because of the reckless, psychotic behavior and substance intake and the fighting, but really because of the pretty awful and annoying music I listened to at very high volumes. My poor mother. I spent some time going back in time on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIdcDL64KCE
I fancied myself an Anarchist and loftily told people "you cannot plant a beautiful garden without first tearing out the weeds." This was all the excuse I needed to get drunk and go out in my small town in the middle of the night and smash the symbols of capitalistic greed in my neighborhood. Basically me and my friends just vandalized everyone's yard in the middle of the night at 14 years old.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkprusF5la0
I loved this band...somehow I did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWLHpuLrpyk
Before Tubthumping, Chumbawamba were anarchists.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgpa7wEAz7I&feature=related
DK. Very annoying at high volume.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa1M6Axgjuo&feature=related
The Exploited. This one used to really piss everyone off. Yikes.

And then there was all the metal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTpQOZcNASw
Top volume.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpMuCrbxE8A&feature=related
Slayer still rocks....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-UbViuK4fY
Swedish death metal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFn26ntmSsg
Black Metal... if my kid even looks at this video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YczYC2yHTM
Megadeth....used to be so cool.

I plan on being around a lot more than my mom was as far as raising a kid, but if it does half the stuff I did and listens to anything remotely as annoying as this stuff, I'm gonna lose it.

You life will change immeasurably.

Just try to be the best Dad and role model you can, and the kids will sort themselves out.

The fact that you're going through this kind of introspection is a great start.:thumbsup::

I remember how my folks gave that sly laugh when we told them my wife was pregnant the first time, "You'll get your now!"

Mine are pretty much grown now: 26, 21, 16. They've done remarkably better than I did. It's been a very positive experience that I'd never do gain.

One thing I've noticed since becoming a parent is that my tolerance/patience grows as my kids do.

Your tolerance of music will be exercised and allowed to grow as you are subjected to things like Barney, Thomas and Lazy Town.:D:D I look forward to hearing what kind of music my kids will be into in their teens.

I guess I'd be worried if I saw them into writhing bloody bodies and goat heads on sticks though.:D:D

I still love Megadeth.:rockon:

I have one word for you : Sports

Really...Why?.........

Hard driving guitar. I still like Dave Mustaine too even though his singing style reminds me of Popeye.:D You know about Mr. Mustaine's beliefs right?

x2

You need to ask yourself 4 questions and be honest with yourself:

1. Can you afford kids? Remember, just because your wife is promised a hell of a job doesn't mean squat. She could be laid off, hate the job, hate nursing, etc, etc. So, can you afford the kids with reduced wages from her or you since you may not be able to work full time?

2. Do you want to afford the kids? IOW, would you be willing to make financial sacrifices for them and are you sure that you won't be resentful later on?

3. Do you have the time for kids AND yourselves?

4. Do you want to spare the time for the kids?

If you are not 100% sure on all of those, better wait till you are.

Yes, but sorting themselves out could mean anything from being a world loved figure all the way to Hitler.

Hopefully by the time the kid gets to the annoying age, some technological advance will keep the noise completely isolated in their room.

If it were me, I'd make sure I had a son. I really wouldn't want to spend my golden years surveiling my teenage daughter everywhere she goes.

Not all kids are like you. I wish my 14 yr old daughter was a little more non-conformist and independent. She wont even let me jaywalk. Her rap music is annoying though.

Cool beans....Yeah..I do......;)

Sheesh, I never let age stop the fighting, substance abuse, annoying music and general mayhem. :rolleyes: I'm 40 and still working on it... :D


I think having kids will make you mature quickly, something I should have done.

Anyhow... My teen angst music (The Germs) from "Decline of Western Civilization"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4kvKUfeFpc&eurl=http://video.google.com/videosearch?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=decline%20of%20western%20civilization&oe=U

I see a lot of couples do the same thing - one gets out of school and starts a new career and immediately they have kids. One of my friends' wives pressured him to start a family and ultimately tricked him saying she was on BC. The premature (in their lives, not the baby's) birth ruined the family and he was forced to join the military to survive. Not that joining the military is a bad thing, it just shouldn't be an emergency decision.

Give yourselves a break. Pay off your debts, go on a few vacations, enjoy each other for a few years before starting the family. Having kids changes your life forever and unless you're independently wealthy, it'll be years before you can enjoy your independent life again. Some people thrive on that desparate, stressfull lifestyle but not me.

Remember, once you have 'em, you can't return 'em for a refund! Just from my observations of my friends and people around me, I think 30-32 is about the best practical age range to start having them.