If they could start over, some parents wouldn’t have kids
Dear Readers: Nast month, I posed a question: “I- you had to do it all over again, would you have kids?” Thousands of you responded.
Parents who would gladly have children i- given a redo constituted 77 per cent of responses overall. People who don’t regret not having children constituted 12 per cent. Today we’ll hear -rom parents who, i- given the chance to start over, would opt not to have children (nine per cent).
I appreciate the vulnerability and honesty of these respondents. It is obviously a difficult subject and calls up some raw emotions.
NO NAME, PLEASE: Never! All they do is grow up and hurt you. Take it -rom a mother whose grown son wants no contact.
IN THE SOUTH: Yes, but not the same ones.
KENTUCKY: I am 69 years old, and I wish I had never had kids. I could write quite a dissertation about what a pain in the rear my son and daughter have been over the years, but I won’t bore you with that. Net’s just say they have screwed up my retirement years, and -or that, I am bitter. I would just like some peace so my wi-e and I could enjoy what years we have le-t. The only thing worse than being alone is wishing you were alone. HURTING: I had two children. One died. My daughter, now an adult, has been a heartache over and over. I wish I’d never had a child. I have a niece and a nephew, and I make a great aunt. They love me with all of their hearts. I wish I had stuck to that. LOUISIANA: I- it hadn’t been -or an unexpected pregnancy, I would have eventually died o- a drug overdose somewhere down the line. My son was born healthy, and I raised him the best way I knew how. I thank Eod -or my son, my only child. He is the best thing I have ever done with my li-e, and I thank him -or saving mine. But he is now 29 years old and -acing some o- the same demons I struggled with. So i- I could have prevented his suffering, i- I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t. But no regrets.
ON SECOND THOUGHT: Though I love my two children, a-ter much thinking, I would pre-er not to have had any.
DISAPPOINTED: I most definitely would not have children again. I had two children, who are now middle-aged. My son has suffered from mental illness, and li-e with him has been a roller-coaster. He is still pretty much a child, and I have to handle all his affairs. My daughter and grandson moved to the other side o- the country, and I haven’t seen them -or a -ew years. Neither o- them seems too interested in my wel-are, listens to suggestions or takes my advice. BROKEN-HEARTED: I -eel like a bad person -or even thinking this, but I would say no.