Posts by Richard Richardson68

I mean, honestly, some people just can't handle even one kid.

Quincy:

I don't even know where to start with this. Honestly? It’s just pure foolishness. I mean, seriously. Everything is becoming so unclear lately, it's like nobody knows what they're doing anymore. I guess maybe I'm just being too cynical, but I can't help it. It feels like everything is falling apart right in front of us. Just total chaos. Typical. kaže: And what's that supposed to be to you? Seriously. Is that your whole purpose in life? Just being a jerk? I don't even know. Maybe I care too much, but honestly, what is that even meant to accomplish? Total foolishness. So, what's the plan here? Just have a massive brood of kids and secretly pray that someone actually brings you a cup of tea when you're old and dying? I mean, seriously? That sounds like total foolishness to me. I guess some people really think that's how life works, but honestly, it's just wishful thinking. 😕 When am I going to be some old lady? Not a chance. Absolutely not.But, I guess... NOTHING AT ALL. I don't want my kid to end up looking after me and wiping my ass when I'm old. NOPE. Not happening. I mean, I actually raised my child to be an independent person, you know? I just love it so much. And I’m not some selfish jerk who's gonna go ahead and list myself as a dependent on his taxes just to get a break. ☕ Look, there's a reason nursing homes exist. They aren't meant for kids. I guess people just forget that sometimes. And the truth is, those people are just plain selfish—you know, the ones who actually expect their kids to carry them on their backs once they get old and helpless. I mean, honestly? It’s kind of twisted. Maybe it's just how some people are, but it feels totally wrong. Anyway, moving on... Look, I don't care what anyone says, the whole point of living definitely isn't just cranking out a massive pile of kids. I mean, seriously, why on earth would I even go through all that? For who? Myself? My husband? The world? Society? I just don't see the logic in it, honestly. Are you kidding me right now? Seriously? What even is this? I mean, wtf? Honestly, my favorite people are the ones who go out and have a massive pile of kids and then don't have a single damn cent to feed them. I mean, seriously. I guess if it were up to me, I’d just pass a law banning people like that from having more children altogether. It's just pure foolishness. I mean, honestly, the most fascinating thing I’ve ever seen is this one woman who somehow managed to spawn three total idiots. She’s actually a distant relative of mine, if you can even call it that. But man, she was a force of nature—a total powerhouse who basically had everything. Everything. And then she goes and remembers that she decided not to have three kids... I mean, really? You have no idea what her life is actually like. Honestly, all three of them are just ungrateful jerks. They were raised exactly the same way, but they all ended up just as messed up. They couldn't even stand up for themselves, let alone her. They’ve been leeching off her cash since they were barely old enough to walk. I mean, they actually threatened her just to get at her money. It's honestly too much to even get into the details—it's just pathetic. Now that she's older and just can't cut it anymore... I mean, seriously, she's such a woman. It's all gone south. Total disaster. Everything just fell apart.Both financially and physically... man. She used to be such a powerhouse, and now? She’s just a total wreck. It’s honestly pathetic to watch. It’s harsh, I know, and maybe I shouldn't even say it, but honestly? She probably would have been much better off if she hadn't had kids at all. So, today the kids basically just tore her apart. They totally undermined her, completely trashed her, and now they’re finally quiet. I guess that's just how it goes. It's all just unclear to me why things went this far, but yeah, they definitely ruined her. Bottom line; Life is a total bitch, honestly. And you? You have no clue how this all ends, or what kind of kids you’re even going to leave behind. Maybe it's just bad luck, I guess. Who knows. Honestly, parents should consider themselves lucky when their kids finally move out, find their own footing, and actually start living their lives. I mean, if they manage to strike out on their own like that? That’s already a massive win in my book.

I mean, I guess I’m with most of what she wrote. I mean, look, even nursing homes aren't always the answer. It’s not like there’s infinite space or money to go around, right? And honestly, if everyone actually decided to move into assisted living at once, that facility would have to be the size of Washington, D.C. just to fit us all. I guess it's just not that simple. But... I mean, seriously...

I don't get it. I really don't. How on earth can you take this one specific example and try to use it as some kind of universal rule for the question in the original post? It's just... I guess it's totally unclear how that works.
It’s pretty obvious—I mean, I assume there was a father involved who was just as much to blame—that they’re the kind of parents who produced such absolute garbage. Their kids turned out exactly how you'd expect given the situation. And honestly, it probably wouldn't have even mattered if they had just one kid or five. It would've been the same result.

It’s just not like that. Luck. Or maybe just pure, unadulterated luck. I don't know. Maybe. I mean, honestly, when the time finally comes, kids just leave. They pack up and head out. It’s inevitable, I guess. Success. Or whatever you want to call it. I guess it’s all just a matter of perspective, isn't it? Maybe. But honestly, people make such a huge deal out of it. It's exhausting. I mean, honestly? It’s about parents who actually raise kids to be independent and responsible. You know, people who build adults capable of carving out their own paths and just... living their lives. Not hovering, not suffocating, just letting them go.

I don't even feel like reading this whole thread from the top, but seriously... how did we even get to this point? Like, since when did having five kids become some kind of insurance policy just because parents want someone to look after them when they're old? It's wild.

Either I get this work done and head home before my boss catches me...🙂

From what I’ve seen, she always felt way more uncomfortable—or honestly, just said the exams were much rougher—when she was seeing a female gynecologist instead of a guy.
Is it that whole thing where women just don't get each other, or... what?

Why are you even so sure about that? 😁

I mean, giving birth to a kid—like, a full-grown human being—and thinking it won't hurt? You can't even imagine that 🙄. It hurts in plenty of other situations too 😁 so why wouldn't it be like that then?
And it’s just... I don't know, it feels like it's tearing you apart, just in case. Or maybe a lot, depending on how it goes.
Then they just sort of shove a baby into you after a few minutes without even asking, "Hey, is this okay?"
I'm positive it hurts.

But then again, if it's like that, why do we even have kids in the first place?

People are freaking out about stuff in Seattle😲 and even over by the local Walmart😲 and all those weird health blogs😲 and just everything else, I guess.
The truth is, the biggest outrage comes from the fact that they're even showing up in the first place.

Some people are totally outraged, others just don't care.

Maybe some old lady is offended because she’s just bitter—seeing someone else's family reminds her of her own wasted youth, I guess. Or maybe it's some narrow-minded jerk who thinks he should "keep his wife at home just to produce kids." Or honestly, it could be a couple that spent their whole lives trying to conceive, finally coming to terms with the fact that they'll never hold their own baby, only to have some young mom show up whining about how hard her life is and how much pain she went through during labor... while they're sitting there thinking, "Must be nice to actually have those problems," you know?

But most people? They aren't even bothered.

Karen Rodriguez3 said:Even under US law, you're basically expected to step up for parents who can't handle things on their own.
I don't really get how anyone could say they wouldn't take care of their mom if she couldn't manage. I mean, what kind of upbringing leads you to think like that?

It’s just bad parenting. Period.
And then, I guess, that’s exactly how they end up being treated by their own kids later on.

Just like that old saying goes: what goes around, comes around...

Ahhh... I think I finally get why my mom had me... as the seventh and absolute last kid in the bunch... I mean, I really thought... 😢 😢 🙂

Angela Newman33 said:honestly, I have no idea where you're getting that from

that's not even what I'm talking about

Look, I know the answer is probably no, but I mean... honestly? You can look at just about anything from a dozen different angles if you try hard enough.

Angela Newman33 said:while guys with five kids under their belts have nothing better to do than hang out on this forum
since we all know most people are just scrolling through this stuff on their lunch break at work

Well, if they don't have any free time at home... then I guess the only time left is on the clock.
That's where they relax. And then they just act exhausted once they get back home 🤣.

Richard Richardson68 said:A mom with five kids doesn't have time to just sit around idling on some forum.😁

Like I said, though... man, I’d really love to hear it too. Just... if it ever happens.

Angela Newman33 said:Plus, I feel like as we've raised the bar on parenting—thanks to everyone actually realizing how much early childhood shapes your entire life—we've started prioritizing quality over quantity.

It's honestly better to have one or two kids who get your full attention rather than a whole pack where everyone just gets the leftovers.

And we all know the deal with massive families—kids pretty much end up raising themselves... or just raising each other, anyway, because parents simply don't have the bandwidth or the energy to give every single kid the individual focus they really need.

Or put it this way: you're better off having one or two standout examples rather than five mediocre ones (and I mean mediocre in terms of resources and gear, obviously, not necessarily their manners or brains...).

Angela Newman33 said:Honestly, there's such a massive outcry and smear campaign against formula lately... it's like women who don't breastfeed are immediately branded as "bad moms" or just total failures.

If you look at some of the attacks on women who don't nurse over on the parenting forums,
it's basically turned into a political issue at this point.

I even heard someone suggest they should pull formula off the shelves at Target and make it prescription-only through pharmacies.

Look, I get all that, but if a woman stops producing milk because she’s stressed out or traumatized by those same "experts"—you know, the doctors and nurses who were hovering over her right after delivery—then I honestly couldn't care less what they think. Maybe I don't, but I really don't.

I honestly think it’s better to space kids out more.
By the time I was actually born, my two oldest siblings had already moved out of the house for work or college.
I know it was brutal on my mom. Just... really hard.
Mostly because Dad wasn't exactly stepping up to help her out with everything.
So, I try really hard to be different from him.

Besides the fact that Mom basically gave up on one of my siblings, I wouldn't even be here 😉.
I'm seriously grateful to her for that.
And word is, I ended up being the one who helped her out the most later on.

Andrew Watson59 said:So, you want to play the martyr? You want to "help" or make the world a better place? Fine. Then go adopt a kid from an American foster home instead of having your own. What have you actually contributed to this planet by bringing a new life into it? If I ever decide to become a parent, I’m going straight to adoption. Where’s my guarantee that my DNA is somehow superior to some kid sitting in a group home right now? For all I know, my grandfather could have been a total psycho or a predator. Who's to say? Are my genes perfect? Please. Yours aren't either. You won't do anything special for society or yourself just by cranking out five more kids. Sorry. (Look, if I offended anyone, that's just my honest opinion 🙂)

We wanted to. From Haiti.
But the law won't let us.

Angela Newman33 said:Well, since you're a guy, you won't exactly be dealing with milk production—so no middle-of-the-night nursing sessions for you.
And honestly, no matter how much of an optimist you think you are, your body isn't going through the physical exhaustion of pregnancy. You'll just be standing there watching from the sidelines while your better half goes through the whole ordeal.

In this modern day and age, they're already shoving baby bottles into infants after like ten days, and then you've got these dads jumping for joy like it's nothing.🙂

Angela Newman33 said:aha, and how many times a day were you doing dishes, cooking, or running laundry?

I mean, I did more than anyone else just because I was the youngest.

Angela Newman33 said:So, how many kids do you actually have? And if you do, what's your actual role in their lives—how much are you really stepping up when it comes to the day-to-day grind and the actual parenting part?

I don't even know if there's any point in listing everything I do. I guess this thread should probably stay more general 🤷.
But fine, here goes 😁: once I get home from work, the baby is 100% my responsibility. I mean, feeding, watching them, getting them down for naps, bath time (from day one until they can finally manage it themselves), middle-of-the-night feedings, doctor appointments—all of it. That is, until I have to head back to the office the next morning. If I'm not holding the kid, it's because I'm doing something else that needs doing: taking out the trash, hitting the grocery store, maybe cooking lunch on the weekends, mowing the lawn... stuff like that
. The only time I actually get a second to breathe is when they're asleep 😉.

Am I complaining? No. Honestly, I love every single second I spend with them.
I just wish there were more of them already. But hey, that's just the result of life's compromises, not because we can't afford it or anything.