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Do you ever think about having children, are you close to that position yet, does it excite or scare you (and like me have you chosen there names)?

― james (james), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Freaky, this has been playing on my mind since the best mate got knocked up....

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Me and Emma choose names every day! It's so great! Our kids are to be called;

Boys;
Robert = Bert for short
Richard = Rocky for short

Girls;
Bullwinkle = Bullwinkle for short (Emma doesn't like this one)
Um, I forget the other one, but it was a real name and it was sweet. Rocky and Bert are definitely the best names evah for two brothers though, at any stage in their lives.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Sometimes I think it would be nice, but then I spend time with my nephew; he is basically Damian from the Omen, and the thought loses all charm.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Rocky is NOT an acceptable shortening of Richard.

― RickyT (RickyT), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

How about Chardy?

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Tis now, RockyT

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I asked for that one, didn't I?

― ChardyT (RickyT), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

every woman I know is pregnant these days, so the subject of children is on my mind a lot. I'm thinking about the subject in both a "cute babies" kind of way, and also in terms of the tiresome logistics surrounding the upbringing of children.

do you reckon when children reach the age of ten or eleven they abruptly become annoying, and you wish you hadn't bothered?

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

A friend of ours has a daughter who's just turned eleven; our friend sez "Thank God, we can finally have a conversation like human beings."

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:58 (twenty-two years ago)

My fiances kids are like 7 & 8, I reckon he's has had it quite easy up to now coz they are well behaved and cute and all that, so he's totally up for having more. I think I should drop a sprog sharpish before they hit their teens and he decides never again!

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 14:59 (twenty-two years ago)

drop a sprog

Social Workers to thread.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think that I'd be a suitable parent just yet, and I'm certainly not ready for the whole 'life-change' shock that having a child would create. Maybe in another 5 years or so, at least

― Fuzzy (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Robert is an excellent boy's name.

― robster (robster), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Algernon is better.

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah little Algernon would get on very well in Dublin

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:09 (twenty-two years ago)

*nods head in agreement*

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:10 (twenty-two years ago)

We did the book "Flowers for Algernon" at school so the name Algernon makes me think of sadness.

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:16 (twenty-two years ago)

My little Algernon will be the most loved boy in all thew world, he will have affection heaped upon him and he will not know the meaning of sadness until he is old enough to cope with it.

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Awww that is so sweet....does anyone have a bucket handy?

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:20 (twenty-two years ago)

thew = the

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Lara is intent on raising Prince Gautama.

Children -- wonderful to visit when they are friends' kids. Then they go home and I don't have to worry about them.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I know I want to have children but not for ages, I know some girls who say they never want to have a children, quite a few actually, I suspect they are lying though.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I used to say I didn't want to have children and I really meant it, I've never had any maternal instincts AT ALL, I used to avoid babies and children at all costs - then I fell in love and went all mushy, my friends still can't believe the change in me!

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned = totally OTM. Usurp others' young. Then go home.

― Nick A. (Nick A.), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Isabel has always wanted kids. I only decided I did quite recently. I think we'll still wait a few years but I should think I'll be a father within five years or so. Typing it out makes it seem more frightening suddenly!

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Ned = totally OTM. Usurp others' young. Then go home.

Gary Glitter NOT to thread.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Big Poppa Ewing. Oh yes.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Am I the only parent on ILE? Wowwee Zowwee!

I've got a son, he turns four in May. He's the shit!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

ILE parents checklist: Gale (sadly missed), Dr C., David Huntsman, Omar (where oh where) - any others?

There has not yet been an "ILE Baby" though.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Or so the overlord moderators/12 ft lizards constantly would have us believe

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh. My. God.

(Um, ILE babies - my friend Mary lurks [she introduced me to here], and she had her second baby only t'other night! Yay Mary!)

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

ILE Baby? Like Tom and Clare's BB baby?

Are there many ILE couples in the first place?

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Donna has a ickle son, doesn't she?

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

We will be timing you Tom! I think I might have committed myself to having kids 'at 30' during a sleepy conversation last night - I have always thought that sounded about right, but now that it's only a few years away... GULP!

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:49 (twenty-two years ago)

nickalicious -- you're not alone
(i was just gonna wonder, inna virtual-verbose manner, 'why the hell don't any moms and pos care to post?', etcetcetcetcetc)

my son'll by 19 in may, and daugter is 15

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

My working definition of an ILE Baby - baby whose parents are posters on ILE and who met because of ILE.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Ooooo we could have a "Name the ILE baby thread"!

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Do these things happen?

Euch! Everything is icky!

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Referring to Tom's baby rather than smee's thread.

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Lara - there are a few ILE Couples, past and present. So it's not inconceivable that there will one day be an ILE Baby. Not inevitable either, of course.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah that's kind of creepy, we'll have to have a group marriage to make it seem less so.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm another one.

Best not to plan it. Much better to have completely life-changing experiences creep up on you by surprise. In my experience, anyway.

I don't reckon we would have ever had kids if we'd had to sit down and decide one day to do it. Random contraceptive carelessness lets fate work it all out for you.

But I'm very happy with parenthood, despite always thinking I'd never have them.

As for names, my son's called Dylan. Inspired by Mr Moran rather than Bob (my girlfriend can't stand him even if I'm a fan) while watching 'Black Books' one night.

― James Ball (James Ball), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Moran instead of McKay? For shame!

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

We could just genetically splice together bits and pieces of all the ILXers into one 21st Century Uber-Child.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

*shudder*

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I feel sick.

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Can you imagine the DanandNed child? I can, but I don't want to. I think Momumel and Kate should have a child though, it would be most interesting.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yeah, the life-changing-oopsy!-give-you-a-fresh-perspective-on-life thing is one of my favorite aspects of my surprise parenthood. Like Bob Ross used to say "we don't make mistakes, we have happy accidents".

Naming your kids is hella-fun, I might add. As long as at least one of the parents (in my case, it wasn't me) has some common sense...I mean, you don't want the poor kid going through life with a middle name like "Pharaoh" or "Ferdinand", y'know?

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

If I were any less maternal I'd be preemptively arrested for child neglect. I'd rather be an aunt. (However, my sister feels the same way.)

― j.lu (j.lu), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Moran instead of McKay? For shame!

Ah, but we didn't really name Dylan after Mr Moran as such, it was more of a "Well what about Dylan, then?" moment as we'd been discussing names and 'Black Books' was on the telly.

We wanted a name that was vaguely celtic (my girlfriend's Irish) but sufficiently anglo-friendly that he wouldn't constantly have it mis-spelled/mispronounced by ignorant English people like myself (i.e. not a Fiachra or Aisling or Niamh, all of which are nice enough names of course).

And Dylan seemed to go alright with Ball unlike, say, Tara which was top girl's choice for about 5 seconds.

― James Ball (James Ball), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Can you imagine the DanandNed child? I can, but I don't want to.

This is a pity, as I think you should contemplate this clearly superior being as the next inevitable stage in human evolution.

So Nickalicious, the obvious question is -- what is your kid's name?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Lukas Isaiah Coleman

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I was just kidding, I just think it would be fantastic if someone had about 8 or 10 children and named them all after characters from Beverly Hills 90210.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

You would not believe the number of Kylies and Jasons in Dublin. this is not a funny game to play on your child.

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Lukas Isaiah Coleman

Now that's a fine name! Especially since it can be made into the acronym of LIC.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I know a couple called Kylie and Jason. Bizarrely enough I think they're too old to be Neighbours-inspired. And they stuck with each other despite the implications.

― James Ball (James Ball), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, I've just remembered that a friend of mine has two sons: Jamie and Lee. She is 'with child' again and will live in fear of her having another boy and calling him...Curtis.

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I had both Eric and Elvis vetoed as middle names. Probably just as well.

― James Ball (James Ball), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

How about Wormtongue? Now there's a name.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

My auntie is a midwife and she delivered a baby a few years ago that was later named Pocahontis McG*rrity!

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

My wife has said that our children shall have no middle names. This is only because her middle names are Hildegard and Hedwig.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Wormtongue? Isn't that Michael Winner's middle name?

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I assure you acronymification wasn't part of our strategy, otherwise we might have ended up with a Thomas Henry Coleman or something.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I intend that my children have mental middle names. It builds character.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Will you leave them on a chilly mountainside immediately after they are born as well?

― RickyT (RickyT), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I want children. Soon, but not too soon.

― rosemary (rosemary), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes a Rocky one.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I like middle names like 'THE DESTROYER'.

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I have no middle name. I might adopt RJG's suggestion. Unless it's his, of course.

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I intend that my children have mental middle names. It builds character.

But how about when that also involves foisting the parents' obsessions on the children as well? I'm thinking of John Peel's kids all having Liverpool, Anfield or Dalglish in their names, which is objectionable on so many levels.

Mildly embarrassing is alright though.

James Ernest Ball

― James Ball (James Ball), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Tom, mental middle names provide blackmail material throughout elementary school. "Oh yeah? Well then I'll just start calling you GRETCHEN THEN"

― Maria (Maria), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 16:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Exactly. They'll all become great artists.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:01 (twenty-two years ago)

no they'll just grow up resenting you.

― Maria (Maria), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:04 (twenty-two years ago)

making them resent you == building character

― RickyT (RickyT), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Stop bullying Tom Maria.

I was going to call them Trinny, Rainy and Beth, but then desided that was too many so maybe Trinny and Rainy-Beth?

― Graham (graham), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:06 (twenty-two years ago)

What you should do is give them crazy middle names, but don't tell them their middle name until they graduate from high school.

― A Nairn (moretap), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I reckon it should be *first name* Ludacris Ewing.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:10 (twenty-two years ago)

You can have fun with initials too, e.g. Andrew Steven Simpson

― A Nairn (moretap), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:12 (twenty-two years ago)

god bless all the breeders

― g (graysonlane), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Hello. I only post here occasionally, so most of you won't recognize me. My girlfriend and I are expecting a child in June. It's going to be a girl, according to the ultrasound technician, but we haven't decided on a name. We've definitely ruled out Shania, though.

― JD (JND), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Now JD - do you really want us to make serious suggestions? I've always thought Sasparella a lovely name for a girl.

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:31 (twenty-two years ago)

the missus and I have been discussing it lately. Seeing as we did our taxes last night and got it from behind we decided we'd pencil in a baby making session on saturday afternoon.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I think to be honest there may be a correlation between "these are the posters who have children", and "some of these people aren't around anymore for some reason". Just judging by the children explosion in the company I'm working in.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Best of luck JD. Hope you're as happy with parenthood as we are. It's full on, though. Make sure you make the most of the peace before June. Any films you want to see, books you want to read, do them now!

― James Ball (James Ball), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Seeing as we did our taxes last night and got it from behind we decided we'd pencil in a baby making
session on saturday afternoon.

Just don't name the wee one Exemption.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:37 (twenty-two years ago)

hmm good idea.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Doesn't sasparella=root beer? I'm fond of the name Adeline. Its nickname, Addie, is nice, too, but I'm not sure the missus fully approves.

And yes, James, I'm trying as well as I can to prepare. Cutting down on reading and movie-going will be a change, but I'd say taking care of a baby is a worthwhile distraction. We moved to a new apartment with more room, laundry in the basement, quieter street, close to a park, etc., but I realize that in all likelihood we'll be housebound and sleepless for a long stretch of time after the baby is born.

― JD (JND), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Just judging by the children explosion in the company I'm working in.

Do you work in a kiddie bomb research centre? Do you ever have regrets?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Yep,well something similar to root beer (what we can't really get in the UK no more). It has a great short version (Sassie) and loads of really good double entendres which as a father I would be most perturbed by.

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:45 (twenty-two years ago)

No regrets at all, it's a boomtime in the industry.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Tom - but how many middle names? I'm a firm believer in one middle name only, and a good confirmation name in later years. The advantage of one middle name is that if your son is a boy and plays cricket for England, he will be seen as hard and working class, irrespective of schooling and temperament.

― Dave B (daveb), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha. Sassie might be cute for a baby, but I'm sure I'd change my mind once she became a teenager. Or if she became a brat. "What did you expect? You named her Sassie."

No root beer in the UK? I always thought that other countries had a greater variety of sodas than we do in the US. I once had a dream that I entered a 7-11 in London and bought a "Mr. Pepper," which was Dr. Pepper with beef broth in it. Not sure what that means, really.

― JD (JND), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

My first son will be called Angel Gabriel C*sarotto.

If I have a child with anyone who lets me get away with this, I'm leaving them.

(p.s. root beer - I think ASDA has a poor own-brand type)

― Mark C (Mark C), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

girl/boy name: x4&ndqe/a

also bob

― geeta (geeta), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

ASDA's own brand root beer is just Dr Pepper with beef broth in it.

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Beef Broth - great name!

One middle name yeah,

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

"Beef Broth" would be a great name, but as a first and last name. "I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Broth." "Please, call me Beef."

― JD (JND), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I want Hilton to bear my children... but he's already said that he hates kids. :-(

I've had names chosen for years. Damn near got to use one of them (Sterling) last year... whoops, year before now (lost track of time) and it's odd to think that I could have a year old child right now. Whoa. Headfuck.

If you had a name picked out for an unborn child, but then did not get to keep said child, would it be odd to call the first baby you *did* bring to term by the same name? Or would that be creepy and weird, and the kid terminally fated to live in the shadow of its etherial older sibling?

― kate, Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Well only if you think it's weird that on the same basis loads of kids are living in the shadow of 1 week miscarried siblings (for couples that pick the name before conception).

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I think that back when infant and child mortality rates were higher, people often did name the second or third child the same name as an earlier one that didn't survive. It does seem a bit creepy now.

I have a feeling that you might come up with a name you really like and then once the baby is born you could feel like the name just didn't fit. Then again, I guess you have to have something ready for the birth certificate, so maybe you're stuck.

― JD (JND), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Picked out kid names with previous boyfriends and it was like a death sentence for the relationships. Of course, that was quite a while ago.

Do hope for kids some day, but no day soon. No money. Plus, I'm too selfish. I like spending my days playing guitar, shopping, and sleeping late. That sort of thing. Doing things on a whim.

Just went to a home inspection this morning and the buyer was telling me that she and her new husband (she is my age) are planning on getting preggo by early summer. So, they're buying a house, just got married, expecting to be expecting... I was like, "Sounds like you've got your life all figured out."

I realized recently that if I wanna ever have mulitple kids I'll have to start even earlier. Hmm... Maybe when I'm in my early 30s?

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

You don't have to have something ready for the birth certificate. If you don't they just write 'Baby St Claire' or whatever your surname is which is quite cute.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm gonna call my son Corgan.

― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm gonna bully your son.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Forgot to mention that I would have had another sister had my mom not had a misscarriage. She was to be named Caroline. They got pretty far in the pregnancy. So I always thought of her as a real person even though she was never born. I think my mom would have been slightly less depressed (she spent at least 2 years in mourning) had she not named it yet.

― Sarah McLUsky (coco), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm gonna call my second son N.

― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:14 (twenty-two years ago)

One in 12 of us had a twin at one time, though most die in the womb without anyone knowing about it. See here

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Apparently my wife and I are naming all of our kids (when we have the 2.5) Norwegian names. I have no say in this whatsoever. I lie. I have some say, but it really doesn't matter. But I like what we compromised on for a girls name and its not norwegian. Campbell Tinley V.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Thor, Blaize, Anne-Lise, all good norwegian names.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:20 (twenty-two years ago)

They do have some nice names. I think we settle on Erik Christian or something like that? I can't remember. Thor would be bad-ass! I could get him a shield.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Surely Erik Chistianson.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Surely Erik Christianson.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I've met two people in my life named after Tolkien characters. (Aragorn and Arwen, strangely enough). This is one of the many hazards of having hippy parents.

― JD (JND), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Surely Lúthien are Beren the ultimate Tolkein names to give your children?

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:44 (twenty-two years ago)

One of my friends in high school was named Beren.

― rosemary (rosemary), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I've run into an Arwen or two on campus.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a feeling that the "Frodo Lives!" graffiti of the '60s is probably accurate now.

― JD (JND), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:50 (twenty-two years ago)

orcrist, glamdring, shelob and nurn

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Smeagol and Deagol for twins.

― JD (JND), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 18:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I actually honestly really like the name Samwise.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 19:04 (twenty-two years ago)

i have a son - 11 months old. he is the best thing ever and i have absolutely no regrets about having him, even though i am a sole parent.
HE STARTED CRAWLING 3 days ago and it is so exciting! i even started a thread because of it hahahahaha.

― donna (donna), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 19:24 (twenty-two years ago)

My drummer is naming his son/daughter Grayson (ie: whether or not it is male or female). I think that's kind of odd.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 19:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Two of you spawn so we can have an ILE baby. Hey, why don't we all spawn and then we can start a children's choir!!

Seriously, though, I think I made a goal that I'd have a munchkin by age 28, which is in 6 years.

― mandee, Tuesday, 28 January 2003 19:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Munchkin is a cute term for a baby.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I prefer Cruller

― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 19:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Ugh! I hate children. Naming the off spring of other people, however, is great fun.
Avoiding the mockery of all the other kiddies when they reach school age is u&k. (AKA don't name your son Sue. Or Frodo)

― M, Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Why do you hate children?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:03 (twenty-two years ago)

They were the ones that told Zeus.

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I had a page in my diary when I was little for baby names I liked. I'm so lucky I didn't have a chance to name any back then! I would have a daughter named Ophelia Lyphe.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:06 (twenty-two years ago)

They're too honest about everything. And they're human larvae. And they depress me to no end.
Also, I'm too selfish/vain to voluntarily stretch my stomach and boobs out for the benefit of another human being.

― M, Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:07 (twenty-two years ago)

You could just not breastfeed them. Of course, if they take to the bottle too long they might have buck teeth. But those can be kind of cute, right?

Babies tend to sound pretty damn cute to me. I'd just dread the awkward early teen years. I hated that time in my life and I can't imagine having to watch someone else go through it (or maybe some kids have fun then??).

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Galadriel is SUCH a hippie name. Up there with Luthien.

If I ever have a bunch of kids I'm going to have to restrain myself from giving all of them names starting with "A".

― Maria (Maria), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Also forgot: babies not cute because their heads are too big for their bodies, they can't carry on a proper conversation, and they're totally helpless. You did not want to get me started on this.

― M, Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I forgive you anyway. Not everyone has to have babies. You can do whatever you want.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

You're wrong. Everyone has to have babies.

― Nick A. (Nick A.), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Am I the only person on ILE who can't have kids? Not bad news - I had a vasectomy, quite deliberately, 5 or 6 years back. I am pretty sure I'd have gone ahead even if I'd known my marriage was to end a few years later.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 21:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Aw, an ILE baby, so cute! (I most likely don't want children.)

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 22:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I had a vasectomy

I thought, perhaps, you had damaged your equipment in some of your extensive play.

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I am not attacking anyone for not wanting to have children. I just wanted to know why people might actively dislike them in general.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 22:38 (twenty-two years ago)

erebor, orthanc, thangorodrim, bolg

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 22:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I love children -- and that's exactly why I don't want one. Interpret that as you wish.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 22:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I like chips. I want some. But I'm not going to have some.

Are you linking having children with weight gain, clogging of the arteries and heart desease. Or is this an analogy too far?

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 22:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I like children but I'm aware of what a tremendous responsibility they are and I wish more people would consider the magnitude of that responsibility before bringing a child into the world. So many kids are screwed up by parents who got in over their heads; I honestly don't think I could handle having a kid.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 23:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I feel the same way about chips.

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 23:11 (twenty-two years ago)

If it does happen it wil be through adoption. Or quite a medical miracle.

― brg30 (brg30), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 23:19 (twenty-two years ago)

That was a completely arse-y thing to say and I apologise.

I understand what you're saying Jody but I can't empathise as I feel sop positive about having children. I'm curious about what they'll look like and fascinated by thoughts of what they'll inherit from me and from my partner. WHOEVER HE TURNS OUT TO BE!

― Lara (Lara), Tuesday, 28 January 2003 23:21 (twenty-two years ago)

The marriage part scares me more then the kids.

― bnw (bnw), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 00:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah - all that wedding cake can make you look really fat

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 00:23 (twenty-two years ago)

____ Status Quo _____ makes a good middle name.

― A Nairn (moretap), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 00:28 (twenty-two years ago)

My first child: Hubert "Hub" 4bebe.

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 00:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I wish I had the nerve to name a kid Maverick. Maverick Miccio would be BADASS. He could be called Rick for short, of course.

But I'm definitely not having kids...well, hopefully not for at least another decade. I worry enough about people I care about. Hate to think how paranoid I'd be about a kid.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 00:43 (twenty-two years ago)

That they'd be talking about you behind your back and stuff?

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 00:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Honestly, though, I think I'm a bit behind on whatever life-development arc it is that gets people to the point where they feel stable and responsible enough to have children, and as such I doubt I will be having any in the near future, or at least not until I've sorted out stuff like how to pay the electric bill on time.

I would probably want to give them names that sound like names but aren't really names, as I'm predictable like that. I would feel sort of guiltily obligated to give them Ethiopian middle names, but that's a bit silly, as they'd have the last name either way. Thankfully my parents broke the whole father's-name-is-your-last-name system with their kids, so I wouldn't have to be responsible for taking that one down. Both of those comments assume I wouldn't be having children with an Ethiopian, which is probably the case, because to be honest the thought of sleeping with other Ethiopians has this weird incestuous quality to it: when I was young "other Ethiopians" meant "people you are related to" and it still felt that way even in Addis Abeba.

The main reason I would want to be a father would be so that I could explain things to kids. I like explaining things to children when they're actually really curious -- like questions about science or society or human behavior.

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 00:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a 5 year old son (I mistakenly posted he was 4 somewhere else - oops) - wasn't ever really sure I wanted kids, but he's here and he's fabulous... although a bit noisy at times. So trite, but really the best thing to ever happen to me.

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 01:04 (twenty-two years ago)

hey, N. Didn't you hear ILE is supposed to be nicer than ILM?

I think its perfectly valid to feel that children would be too stressful. Especially if you think you'd be worried about them pretty constantly.

The upside would easily be that I can't imagine not finding the kid completely cool. Nabisco's totally OTM about watching kids figure stuff out. While I'm completely nervous about the concept of being parent, if it ever happened, I'm sure I'd adore the kid.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 01:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Anthony - I'm not being err.. not nice. Am I? The behind-your-back thing was a joke about paranoia.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 01:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I like explaining things to children when they're actually really curious -- like questions about science or society or human behavior.

I enjoy doing this with my son except I get frustrated sometimes when his attention span runs out (he's only 7) and I get hoity toity and say daddish things like 'alright then I'm not going to talk to you unless you're going to be sensible..'

― David (David), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 01:25 (twenty-two years ago)

ah...I guess I was being a bit paranoid there. :) Sounded like you were kinda being harsh in your mockery. Which, if the threads don't lie, isn't very ILE.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 01:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm only like that with Kate (reportedly).

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 01:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I've missed the zeitgeist a bit, but a friend named Elanor comes from a family with a Tolkien-mad father. He's not unkind, though. His son got Tom. Tom Durin.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 11:08 (twenty-two years ago)

One college friend was Galadriel, and her dad was an Allman brother, she had hippy Bay Area mum. Other friend was known as Kay but real first name was Elinor. The Tolkeinite parents in this case were weird academics in Devon.

Think that when I was named my mum was responsible, and she didn't wonder enough: 'does this name, y'know, SCAN?'

― suzy (suzy), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 11:36 (twenty-two years ago)

That is a better joke if we know your name.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 11:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm here assuming that your name isn't Suzy The Art Skool Disco. If it is, dude, harsh!

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 11:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a friend called Eowyn. But she comes from Devon anyway so even people who don't know their Tolkien don't really bat an eyelid...

We are quite keen on Doanda (sp? I should really learn it properly before I sprog) for a daughter. It means 'dweller on the downs'.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 11:49 (twenty-two years ago)

i quite like the idea of adopting -- y'know, too many unwanted children in the world an' all that. but i'm happy enough being an occasional auntie for the forseeable future.

― rener (rener), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 11:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't put my surname on internet forums because the last thing I need is some noseyparker from work Googling me - lots of people here know what it is and they don't use it here, either. The 'Suzy' is down to me, but Susan plus Surname is horrible due to non-scansion mentioned upthread. My sister's name doesn't scan either. My mum's does, and it's not like she was born with the surname (she kept it because the maiden one was Johnson, which entitles you to share with 20 pages of Minneapolis phone book). So URRGH UNFAIR.

― suzy (suzy), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 11:54 (twenty-two years ago)

But surely its scans just perfectly for a motherly reprimand.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 11:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, like my mum is ever going to learn to operate Google. She still hasn't figured out CAPS LOCK can go on and off depending on whether or not it is needed. She only got an iMac to annoy me; I needed it at the time more than A CROCHETED BLANKET or AN UGLY BRIEFCASE BOUGHT OFF THE BACK OF A LORRY IN MEXICO or DESIGNER DISCOUNT CLOTHES where you think 'not really clothes per se, although I'm sure someone, a flid maybe, designed them so that leaves discount...gee, thanks'.

(Grr, one of those useless parental packages came today, containing a stained makeup bag, some Disney shit to fuck me off and a really ugly bracelet. I'd be more grateful if I got something I needed or wanted).

― suzy (suzy), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 12:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I once told my sister I might adopt someday. Even if I could have kids, it might be nice to raise a lonely one. And she practically cried and was like, "That's so sad! You would never get to know what it would be like to have a kid with someone you love!" And I was like, "Yes I would, it would still be our kid..." Oh, family. Will they ever learn?

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 13:37 (twenty-two years ago)

You know, even parents who prepare for years for having children don't know what they're getting into.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 13:56 (twenty-two years ago)

And even parents who now know what they've got into don't know what they'll be getting into later.

Don't know about you Nick, but I'm dreading the teenage years. Your kid hating you? Ungrateful bastards!

― James Ball (James Ball), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 14:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Speaking of ungrateful....Suzy why do you hate your parental package so?

― smee (smee), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

'Parental package' sounds like a gross euphemism.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Only in your head N.........

― smee (smee), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 14:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Because due to the freelance lifestyle I am skint, am owed £500 by magazine which friend hired me to write for, which is alienating me from friend (it's not his job to pay me, unfortunately). When I get this skint I get in a VERY BAD MOOD.

Because I don't wear jewellery (and I especially don't wear THIS jewellery), things with Disney characters on them make me vom, and if you're going to give someone a make-up bag, have the courtesy NOT to use it for three months before you empty and send it to someone as a gift.

I thought I'd trained my mother. She doesn't have much money, so I'd rather she spent it on something I might appreciate/use instead of something which is going to go 'into storage' (bracelet) or straight in the bin (the rest of it).

― suzy (suzy), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Fair 'nuff

― smee (smee), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

(Bebe 4bebe?)

I still feel 15, rather than 25, so I always give uncomprehending looks to strangers who ask if I'm married or have any children. In fact I still feel like I'm play-acting this whole "adult" role and at any moment the director is going to come on stage, clap and say, "Good effort!" and return me to my teenage self.

The other day I dropped into a coffee shop on the way home, to get some hot cocoa and avoid the snow for a moment, and had this odd rush while exchanging basic information with the waitress: "Would you like a seat?" "Yes, please." "What would you like." "Hot cocoa. Can I smoke?" "Sure, and I'll bring your hot cocoa in just a minute." "Thank you." I got a small buzz of accomplishment at completing that exchange without incident.

This happens all the time at work--the feeling that I'm tenuously navigating in waters where I don't really belong--but there the end result is more often "Who am I kidding?"

Anyway, this is all to say that I adore children (I still babysit for free on occasion), but I can't imagine myself having any. As Nabisco says, I should figure out how to pay my electric bill on time first.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 18:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Sarah reminded me of something that once occurred to me too. I like the idea of adopting a child even if I can have children 'of my own'. I'd like to think that I could do both but maybe I'm too narcissistic to go the adoption route.

― Lara (Lara), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

(Amateurist that doesn't fit the pronunciation: I think the joke you're looking for is "Bubba 4bebe.")

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 18:43 (twenty-two years ago)

mrs carsmile was discussing children with a co-worker and, apparently, co-worker's friend had given her recently born child the middle name of "danger"...

oh, and emma to thread, obv.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 19:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Holy crap is that kid going to be the coolest thing ever.

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 19:50 (twenty-two years ago)

To put the alleged unpleasantness of Nick into perspective: I used to be in a sort of paper predecessor of this kind of thing, an amateur press association. One memeber talked about just having had a baby with her husband, very happily and pleasantly. Another said in an obviously aggressive way, all in capitals, that he did not want to hear about her "WASTE PRODUCTS".

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Ok, that's offensive and unnecessarily rude, but also very hilarious.

― Nick A. (Nick A.), Wednesday, 29 January 2003 21:22 (twenty-two years ago)

four months pass...

I met a girl called Clover this week. It suits her. In a good way.

― Lara (Lara), Saturday, 14 June 2003 00:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Freaky, this has been playing on my mind since the best mate got knocked up....

Only now do I read this as "Freaky, this has been playing on my mind since my best mate got me knocked up...."

― N. (nickdastoor), Saturday, 14 June 2003 00:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Im suprised how few people in this thread dont wish to have kids. Interestingly, guys don't seem to be as badly thought of for not wanting children as women are.

I have never ever wanted kids. At about 14 I knew this to be truth. I'm 32 now, and my position has not changed the slightest. For whatever reason, the concept of being responsible for a child is not only scary, but simply alien to me. It feels as wrong for me to be a mum as it would be to ... I dont know, cut off a leg?

Plus I've never felt I'm really together and patient enough to have any kids. I dont much care for toddlers. I dont even seem to be able to stay in a happy relationship for more than 5 minutes let alone start a family :(

― Trayce (trayce), Saturday, 14 June 2003 08:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Just noticed that I hadn't posted here...

Not only do I not want kids, but my sister and brother feel the same way. And there has never been any questions/pressure from the rest of the relatives either.

Mulling it over, I suppose I have feelings similar to Trayce... I'm incredibly uncomfortable around kids and being a parent/part of a family is something that is so *not* a part of who I am.

― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Saturday, 14 June 2003 09:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Having kids would be unfair as they might turn out like FatNick, there's obv. some dodgy genes in the bloodline...

― DG (D_To_The_G), Saturday, 14 June 2003 09:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never quite been able to imagine having kids. I like kids, but being a parent just doesn't seem right for me for some reason. Maybe that could change when I get in a serious relationship etc. I dunno.

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Saturday, 14 June 2003 14:06 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread is hilarious due to N.

And it's a coincidence because I dreamt I had a baby last night that I kept forgetting in random shops and various other locations, and I also forgot to change its diapers and it kept peeing on me. Whoops. Maybe my brain is trying to tell me I am too irresponsible for baby as I kept losing it like how I always lose my keys.

― Mandee, Saturday, 14 June 2003 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

It doesn't surprise me that there are so many people saying they'll never have kids because it's a predictable thing that people of a certain age always say. I was like that. However I probably wouldn't have become a parent except it happened kind of by accident. But to those people who say they're uncomfortable around kids, don't underestimate your capacity for change.

― David (David), Saturday, 14 June 2003 18:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm getting too old that a change now would even be a good idea. If I didnt want kids before, being a new mother in my mid or late 30s would be an even worse idea. They'd still be at home when I was in my 50s (possibly) and that does me head in.

Also I just noticed Amateurist's post above: In fact I still feel like I'm play-acting this whole "adult" role and at any moment the director is going to come on stage, clap and say, "Good effort!" and return me to my teenage self. ... I so identify with this. I always feel like I'm faking it, missing something, not grown up somehow. I wonder if this feeling ever goes away?

― Trayce (trayce), Sunday, 15 June 2003 00:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I can testify that it has not gone away at all by age 44. I've given up expecting it to.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 15 June 2003 09:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I didn't mean that people would necessarily change their minds and start wanting children (although there are huge numbers of women* in their late 30s and beyond who are doing precisely that) but more that having had a child I was amazed at my own capacity to change - becoming skilled at things that I was previously completely terrified of and had thought I'd be hopelesss at.

* men in a lot of cases are happier to carry on childless unless forced to address the issue by partners.

― David (David), Sunday, 15 June 2003 10:41 (twenty-two years ago)

My mother had me when she was quite old (39) so I feel like I have quite some time to grow up before I start thinking about children. That phrase, however--"thinking about children"--is harsh to my ears, because having a child doesn't seem to be something that one decides upon as one would decide to purchase a car or buy a condo. I get exasperated by people who speak of having children as a kind of lifestyle choice (especially those who speak of it condescendingly), although I know that this is functionally what it has come to be in our place and time.

David et al: I think this is a general human characteristic, adapting to unforeseen changes, new circumstances, etc.

― amateurist (amateurist), Sunday, 15 June 2003 10:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I always said we'd stop at two kids, "we've replaced ourselves," "we're two for two so far," etc. Lately, though, we've gone into negotiations about #3. I may in fact be insane.

― Neudonym, Sunday, 15 June 2003 11:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I can testify that it has not gone away at all by age 44. I've given up expecting it to.

It's interesting -- in the interview section of that new Cure DVD, Mr. Smith notes his own age (he's also 44 or on the verge of it) and similarly reflects, using slightly different language, on that feeling, noting among other things that the term 'teenage angst' is used to trivialize emotions that need not necessarily or automatically disappear with age, though society would prefer that it did.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 15 June 2003 12:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Why should society care about some angsty pensioners?

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 15 June 2003 13:03 (twenty-two years ago)

You'll know when you're 80. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 15 June 2003 13:06 (twenty-two years ago)

i have no desire to have children. there are so many reasons for this.
1) how do you do it right? i have alot of ideas about raising children correctly, but most of them conflict with each other: eg if i were to have children, i would want to be the primary caregiver, and yet i also think that men need to take responsibility for their offspring as much as women tend to.
2) how the hell do women raise boys, let alone girls?
3) how do parents cope with rebellion?
4) there are enough people in the world already. (not that one needs to procreate to have children, i'm sure there are plenty of kids out there needing parentage)
5) i've been there and done that, in a way. i spent 7 years helping my mum raise my little brother (yes and even though my father isn't of the absent variety i did a helluva lot more childraising than he did) and it was wonderful but now i've had my fill of maternaldom.
6) i doubt i will ever have the time for it. my life is very full already.
7) i have enough trouble looking after myself, let alone someone else.

i've been told that i am exactly the kind of person who should breed, cos i am "good" and "smart" and all that. while i appreciate the compliment and it makes me feel very moral and all, i think women have to deal with enough normalising-to-have-children stuff already, no?

― di smith (lucylurex), Monday, 16 June 2003 02:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Leading on a bit from Di's last comment, I've felt some odd pressure here and there -- not from my family or friends or anything, more this weird free-floating thing -- for the idea that I should have kids because I'd make 'a good father' or something. More and more, though, I just hum "I'm the End of the Family Line" by Moz.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 16 June 2003 02:26 (twenty-two years ago)

seeing my older siblings approaching their 50s childless and still really getting big kicks out of life just cements my resolve to never breed.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 16 June 2003 02:28 (twenty-two years ago)

i'd like kids, 2 or 3

― minna (minna), Monday, 16 June 2003 02:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm uncomfortable around children and think I would make a terrible parent. That said, I also find myself thinking more and more that I need to leave behind some kind of genetic/parental legacy, and I feel that many of my friends should reconsider and think about doing the same. To be an asshole about it, I know far too many idiots and losers who are breeding left and right while all the 'cool' couples I know plan on never having children - I can't help thinking this bodes ill for the human race, if only because it seems like diversity might be taking a nosedive.

F'rinstance I know of way too many delinquent dads - the idea that these scumbags' fucked-up DNA is getting passed on while mine isn't is a little disturbing when you think about the long term implications for human evolution, especially if you assume that such asinine behavior is possibly influenced by genetics...

― Millar (Millar), Monday, 16 June 2003 04:45 (twenty-two years ago)

documentary on gay dads tonight:
thots:

1) are they aping breeders
b) is this a bad thing
2) gay adoptions are fast becoming illegal in many states-so homophobes think we are debauched decadents, until we prove that we want to be married and have kids-and we arent allowed to have any. if you are going to hate us be consistent.
3) white gay men often raise black kids, what are the cultrual implications of this-the two least likely to be wanting finding each other ?
4) one couple disparaged non-kid having fags by talking about seeing galleries with a man at 80, attending the same openings-thats all i want though.

― anthony easton (anthony), Monday, 16 June 2003 06:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I am increasingly of the opinion that many (not all but many I've known) men would happily go without kids, its just they end up in committed relationships where by accident, design or coercion they become fathers.

Terrible as it sounds I suspect thats my dad's view (and my dad loves us very much I must stress). Ive known guys express suprise and relief when I state my desire for no kids.

In fact it was only once an issue for me - finally relenting to marry someone a year ago, and having to come to terms with the fact he wanted kids badly, I didnt, and he was prepared to marry me anyhow.

Well that never ended up happening but yeah, it was sobering to thnk about.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 16 June 2003 07:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I have to say I cannot wait to have kids. The sooner the better. I would however like to be married first, which I am hoping will work out. I had a 'scare' as such in January which led to the agonising waiting for a test to develop. Sadly it was negative & I was devastated. It took me a while to get over it, but fortunately it was a positive thing whichever the result. It made us realise how much we wanted kids. I am hoping for a boy first (although aslong as the baby is healthy I do not mind) & he will be called Rudy. I have ideas about how I will bring my children up, who knows if you will be a good parent. I will do my best & I am pretty sure that will be good enough.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 16 June 2003 08:14 (twenty-two years ago)

five months pass...

yesterday evening we had lee perry on the stereo. my two year old stood up in his high chair and started punching his fist up into the air, yelling "FIYAH!... THUNDAH!... LIGHTNIN'!"
he had a little trouble with BRIMSTONE though: he only has a limited vocabulary.

― gaz (gaz), Monday, 1 December 2003 01:55 (twenty-two years ago)

two months pass...

I didn't share this with you guys when it happened, but two weeks ago we had a baby boy. He's great and was long awaited.

I've distinctly noted one change with me, other than fatigue. It is an insane increase in the amount of emotionality I have wrt to hearing about kids. Last week I read about an 8 week old that had been beaten death. The kid had partially healed severe burns on his feet and multiple fractures in his limbs. Of course, this would affect anyone, but I just cried and cried. I could only think of it in terms of my baby. Just now I read about Pantani's mom saying goodbye to him at his funeral:

Amid the tears, Mamma Tonina Pantani hugged Marco's coffin and poignantly wished her son farewell on his final journey, saying "goodbye, goodbye, goodbye Marco, goodbye baby, goodbye beautiful boy."

I had to leave the library, I was nearly totally melting down. I don't mean to sound "look how sensitive Hunter is." I wonder if any other parents have experienced this?

― Hunter (Hunter), Thursday, 19 February 2004 01:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I have. Happens all the time.

Congratulations!

― luna (luna.c), Thursday, 19 February 2004 02:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I used to be so emotionally in-charge, and nowadays seeing harm befall children tears at my heart strings and puts the urge to kill into me where no urge to kill previously existed.

And on a lighter note, my baby's momma's best friend from back in the day just had her little baby girl this weekend, I just got word. I always get so excited when someone else has a new one; especially what with this one being a girl (in my circle of family & friends, I know of at least 8 boys and 0 girls who have been spawned in the past 6 years...yay for a girl FINALLY up in the mix!).

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 19 February 2004 16:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Yay new babies!

My cousin's wife had twin boys on Valentine's Day.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Thursday, 19 February 2004 16:59 (twenty-one years ago)

My aunt & uncle, both 42, with kids of 15 and 11 have just had the news that they are expecting again. They are still reeling from the shock, I can't wait!

― Rumpy Pumpkin (rumpypumpkin), Thursday, 19 February 2004 17:23 (twenty-one years ago)

ten months pass...

I can't stand children. No, seriously. It's one of those things I've had to accept about myself. I'm not especially proud of it, or comfortable with it, or amazed by it. I simply cannot be around children for any length of time at all, ever. I mean, they're so stupid. They listen to crap music and watch the worst sorts of movies. Even their tastes in video games are questionable. They don't know squat about food, let alone how to make a decent meal. They read really crap books, if they read books at all (though to be fair, that's also true of the adult population). They cannot be conversed with in any meaningful way, cannot hold their liquor, get really weird on weed, and are intolerable on acid. They have real trouble controlling their emotions even when sober, and no trouble at all controlling the emotions of those around them, which if you ask me is way too much power to hand someone who, as I established earlier, is stupid. They get paid way too much attention to in general, I think, and should be alternately ignored and beaten, like in pre-war America. Children should understand from the get-go that they have nothing useful to offer the world, at least not until they learn to offer something useful. The sense of entitlement among children is appalling. But that's not what really bothers me -- what really bothers me is just children. They're totally un-self-conscious in a way that's not half as endearing as people seem to think (usually, it just means they're embarrassing to dine with), and not at all the kind of cute I'm interested in.

Cats are better.

― Pears can just fuck right off. (kenan), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:36 (twenty years ago)

http://cube.smedia.co.uk/downloads/pictures/ssbm/kirby.jpg

― TOMBOT, Friday, 14 January 2005 20:39 (twenty years ago)

Kenan, you really wouldn't like me.

― .adam (nordicskilla), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:40 (twenty years ago)

but I already like you!

― Pears can just fuck right off. (kenan), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:41 (twenty years ago)

Well, I'm out.

― Haibun (Begs2Differ), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:43 (twenty years ago)

http://g.myspace.com/00047/44/31/47211344_l.jpg
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS

― Lukas Alicious (nickalicious), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:44 (twenty years ago)

okay, that's adorable.

― Pears can just fuck right off. (kenan), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:45 (twenty years ago)

See, I think adults are fucking assholes: self-obsessed, pretending to be "mature" when all they really want to do is hump and shit and buy new shit, reading and listening to music instead of connecting with other humans, going around their polluted-ass cities or bumpkin-ass towns being prejudiced pigs and killing each other...fuck that.

― Haibun (Begs2Differ), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:45 (twenty years ago)

Oh, Nick. He's been brainwashed.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:47 (twenty years ago)

Kenan, you're forgetting how tender and succulent they are.

― Michael White (Hereward), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:48 (twenty years ago)

Self-entitled - check
Bad taste in video games - check
Not as cute as should be/thinks he is - check

This is me!

I hung out with kids at xmas and they all thought I was the coolest person in the world by the end of the day. Anyone that feeds my ego that much is fine by me!

― .adam (nordicskilla), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:49 (twenty years ago)

Cats can hold their liquor much better than children, it's true.

I don't feel as strongly as Keenan, but I'm still not having any children.

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:50 (twenty years ago)

self-obsessed, pretending to be "mature" when all they really want to do is hump and shit and buy new shit, reading and listening to music instead of connecting with other humans, going around their polluted-ass cities or bumpkin-ass towns being prejudiced pigs and killing each other

Hm... *checks list*

Me... me... me.... me... me... but I've never killed anyone. I did dream the other night though that I randomly picked off some people in a crowd, and woke up TERRIFIED that I'd get caught, even though I knew there was no evidence.

― Pears can just fuck right off. (kenan), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:51 (twenty years ago)

I just caught on that that's nickalicious's son. He really is adorable. I used to be that cute, until I got all ugly inside.

― Pears can just fuck right off. (kenan), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:53 (twenty years ago)

OMG i have that dream a lot, except it's always a revenge killing of someone I know instead of a random thing

Kenan I am sorry that we will never be friends since we seem to hate each other in the abstract. I like you in person though!

― Haibun (Begs2Differ), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:53 (twenty years ago)

I don't feel as strongly as Keenan

(neither do I)

― Pears can just fuck right off. (kenan), Friday, 14 January 2005 20:56 (twenty years ago)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/lunacee/boointhepool.jpg

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 14 January 2005 21:24 (twenty years ago)

okay, maybe I don't hate children. Maybe I just had a really starchy lunch and not enough nicotine.

― Pears can just fuck right off. (kenan), Friday, 14 January 2005 21:44 (twenty years ago)

oops, wrong thread... sorry.

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 14 January 2005 21:46 (twenty years ago)

it seemed perfectly in context to me.

― Pears can just fuck right off. (kenan), Friday, 14 January 2005 21:47 (twenty years ago)

I like my friends' kids just fine.

― Michael White (Hereward), Friday, 14 January 2005 22:00 (twenty years ago)

I think I'm child-phobic. I'm very uncomfortable even being around toddlers and infants, being expected to interact with them at family gatherings is torture. Once they hit 9 or 10 I'm OK, but when they're young and wild I want nothing to do with them.

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Friday, 14 January 2005 22:14 (twenty years ago)

Me and my soon-to-be-housemate girlfriend have agreed that we don't want babies, ever.
There are more than enough of them in the world already, and we're not willing to make the obligatory sacrifices that one must make as part of parenthood.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Friday, 14 January 2005 23:22 (twenty years ago)

Oh Kenan, have a heart.

― jill schoelen is the queen of my dreams! (Homosexual II), Friday, 14 January 2005 23:26 (twenty years ago)

four years pass...

they're horrible

― tuppence b. bag (roxymuzak), Saturday, 25 April 2009 00:50 (sixteen years ago)

pretty much, yeah

― WmC, Saturday, 25 April 2009 00:56 (sixteen years ago)

yeah

― barfy (harbl), Saturday, 25 April 2009 00:57 (sixteen years ago)

do not want

― ciara1985 (circa1916), Saturday, 25 April 2009 00:57 (sixteen years ago)

four years pass...

I don't think children are horrible, but I don't know how to interact with them. How do I learn??

― ḉrut (crüt), Wednesday, 22 May 2013 00:30 (twelve years ago)

make practice children out of paper mache and carry them around with you

― controversial vegan pregnancy (contenderizer), Wednesday, 22 May 2013 00:34 (twelve years ago)

I have good success treating them like small adults (don't curse or offer them liquor, though). Ask them questions about themselves, show interest in their hobbies, agree to play Transformers if they ask.

― carl agatha, Wednesday, 22 May 2013 00:34 (twelve years ago)

I've distinctly noted one change with me, other than fatigue. It is an insane increase in the amount of emotionality I have wrt to hearing about kids.

Me too, fwiw.

― Guayaquil (eephus!), Wednesday, 22 May 2013 02:15 (twelve years ago)

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