What's the point of having children?

<p>I'm not surprised so many CCers don't want kids. All that most of you care about is school, and from previous threads, most don't have girlfriends/boyfriends. But when you start to care and love someone else, maybe you'll begin to understand why people want to have kids--though it's not something anyone can explain. Now, I'm not stupid enough to actually want kids NOW...but I could easily see myself having kids in the future.</p>

<p>I think it's been studied that more educated parts of the world tend to have less kids. They have more resources birth control etc... Now nodnard lets not generalize. Some want kids some don't it's a choice nothing to get hostile over. I'm sure some people will change their minds but some won't and that's fine too.</p>

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the ignorance in that statement is astounding. although America is often called "a melting pot" people tend to retain some of the cultural idiosyncrasy. If you are Indian, as a lot of my friends are, you may attend indian weddings or events. being exposed to one's own culture allows one to adopt the mannerisms of that culture. i'm sure if you choose people from the same region in India or China, they will share some characteristics just because they grew up with common customs. now, if you are indian and grow up with white parents, you are not exposed to these common customs.</p>

<p>ps, how exactly does an american act? if you were to disregard all ethnic habits or stereotypes, can you describe how an american acts?</p>

<p>I cannot wait to have children. :) </p>

<p>They truly bring joy to the world. :) </p>

<p>To be able to teach a child the lessons of life is truly fascinating. :)</p>

<p>It's a way of continuing your family's legacy by having something that is both a part of you and your counterpart. When you love someone, having a kid with them is a way of showing it and expressing it. Watching your kids grow up and sharing moments with them would be quite fun. Also, when you become old your kids can take care of you.</p>

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the ignorance in that statement is astounding. although America is often called "a melting pot" people tend to retain some of the cultural idiosyncrasy. If you are Indian, as a lot of my friends are, you may attend indian weddings or events. being exposed to one's own culture allows one to adopt the mannerisms of that culture. i'm sure if you choose people from the same region in India or China, they will share some characteristics just because they grew up with common customs. now, if you are indian and grow up with white parents, you are not exposed to these common customs.</p>

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<p>Yes they will gain some customs but still they will dress in what ever their peers are dressing, listen to what ever is the new things, etc. Thus they will never act and behave like they were born and raised in where ever their parents grew up but act and behave like where they grew up.</p>

<p>okay, even if they act like a normal teenager, they will want to feel a sense of belonging to some group. in psychology we learned that the teenage/early adulthood years are generally when a person tries to discover their identity. a big part of that is identifying with a certain race/culture and being accepted by people of that race/culture. my cousins are biracial (black and white) and they are currently experiencing this. they are torn between who to identify with. they look white, but live in a predominately black area, so they try to mesh in with african-american culture. however, they never truly feel fit into african american culture because of the obvious skin color difference. and then, when they try to mesh with the white kids, they never truly fit in their because of their inclination to "act black" due to the mostly black area in which they grew up. </p>

<p>now, imagine this for a chinese growing up with white parents. he gets to his teenage years when cliques are at there peak and he is desperate to belong. naturally he wants to hang out with the people who are most similar to him and share a common background. so he gravitates towards the white kids. but at the same time, he wants to be around people who look like him. but how does he fit in with chinese kids when, unlike them, he has not been exposed to a wealth of chinese culture (i.e. the language, the clothing, the customs)? so basically he's torn between whether he is white (as his parents raised him to be) or chinese.</p>

<p>my aunt's a psychologist and we actually discussed this. adoption often leads to identity/abandonment issues. imagine if, on top of those problems, you have no idea what culture to become a part of (sure you can say the american culture, but there are numerous subsets to it, which are manifested in those customs passed down by their parents). which is why this "matching race" thing is in place. to avoid these obvious difficulties.</p>

<p>I have never in my life seen people gravitating to a certain group because of their race or ethnic background usually its all about intrests. Adoption does not lead to identity/abandonment issues society does. I do not see the point in being so hung up on race and culture just because you look a certain way it doesnt make you who you are.</p>

<p>So your chinese with white parents. What group do you fit in? What ever group has the same interests as you. Parents do not raise their children to be a certain race they raise their children to be decent human beings.</p>

<p>Should the chinese child learn about chinese customs? Totally along with other cultures and customs thats called being a well rounded person.</p>

<p>The only point to this "matching race" thing is denying a child the possibilty of loving home because society says if you look a certain way you should act a certain way. And the people who think like that are the ones who should not produce children.</p>

<p>hotpiece and others make good points. Kenshi I agree with you more though. Everyone is talking about what's happening and they are all looking inside. They have no idea what it's like to be shipped from foster home to foster home, usually living with people who only have you there for the extra money not because they want to be doing a good thing. It's not fair that a few high powered individuals on the outside are making the decision of whether or not I get a home (thankfully I did). I'm not saying there isn't any merit to the findings; I'm saying a home out weighs those findings. I'd take being white (which I am) and living with my African American father, and Chinese mother (which they are also) any day over being back in those foster homes. Being able to quote actual findings and actually being in that situation are two totally different things.</p>

<p>How do you not want kids?</p>

<p>I don't see them fitting into my life.</p>

<p>you guys are all so mean. you must have had a pretty rough childhood not to want kids.</p>

<p>I hate children with a passion they are annoying and with them around you no longer have a life.</p>

<p>Not liking kids doesn't make you mean.</p>

<p>Rough childhood? Selfish? What on earth are you people talking about? If anything, NOT bringing children into an overpopulated world is less selfish. People have children for their OWN pleasure- they have children that they can "share moments with" that are "quite fun," "teach them life lessons," and continue THEIR genetic line. That seems pretty self-centered to me. Especially since there are so many people who underestimate the burden of raising children and get pregnant thoughtlessly.</p>

<p>If you're so worried about truly shaping the world's future, then work on yourself, or adopt orphans. I'm certainly not faulting people who want kids of their own, but if you do, 1) Make sure you can handle the responsibility first and 2) Don't ignorantly point fingers at people who choose not to have children and accuse THEM of being selfish</p>

<p>Well put RaspberrySmoothie.</p>

<p>If anyone has any doubt whether liberalism and feminism have infultrated the realm of academia, all they need to do is read a lot of these posts. Most posters have been brain washed into believing that children are a burdon and something that will stand in the way of what really matters in lifr- being selfish and having a prosperous career. That is OKay though, because guess who IS having all of the kids? Concervative families, so it will come full cycle in a generation or two ;) Oh wait, so are welfare sponges who are paid by the government for having children that the government (through yours and my tax money) will support. Never mind! LOL</p>

<p>Kids can be annoying, but they're cute. Once, i saw two kids stranger to each other sharing a piece of cracker.. gosh, what can I say.
and today, i saw a 5-year-old boy showing interest in a girl (about his age). the parents noticed and let him stay simply for that reason. it was quite a sight.</p>

<p>No kids for me.</p>

<p>Some of these post state they don't want kids because of their careers. C'mon most of this forumn has not graduted from college yet, so how can you say you'll be making 500k a year. Saying you won't have kids because of your money making career(which there are no guarantees) seems a little constrative. I mean life happens and peoples opinions/goals change.</p>