Quote:
Originally posted by Fljotsdale:
Me too! My 40yr old daugher made a conscious choice not to have children many, many years ago, and has never seen reason to regret that choice. She is, however, adult!
Nonetheless, the childless do NOT really appreciate, imo, the responsibilities, pleasures and burdens of parenthood - it is a part of their potential they have not experienced or developed. It does not make them less adult, but it does make them less able to participate in/empathise with the concerns of parents. And I feel this is true whether a person has CHOSEN not to have children, or whether a person is UNABLE to have children. Forgive me if I am wrong in this assumption.
I hope Sir Taliesin only meant that - but even if not, I suspect his comments were more thoughless and lighthearted than serious in intent. 
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May I add that I am 32 and have opted not to have children, myself. I helped raise my cousin, was a preschool teacher for a while and have been an "auntie" to my best friends three kids. I just don't have that "ticking clock" syndrome most women seem to have. I don't feel you have to have children to prove anything and, since we don't have royalty here, I feel no need to "continue the lineage". I'm proud of my heritage, but don't see why some people (especially women) feel the need to have children to "be complete" or to be "adult". I have been adult in my attitudes since I was 6 years old. Being of genius IQ put exceptional burdens on me when I was young and much more was expected of me than of other children. I am just now getting a chance to "act like a child" (and believe me, I'm MORE than making up for it).
But I will say, don't assume that all childless people do not or cannot appreciate the "responsibilities, pleasures and burdens of parenthood". Some of us can. The responsibilities and burdens are some of what made me decide not to have children and, watching my friends with their children, I know full well the pleasures I'm missing. That pleasure is somewhat supplanted by the pets I have as I care for them as I would a child. And the experience I had growing up and helping raise my cousin as well as teaching 3 year olds
and helping my friend with hers has given me a bit of a chance to know what it's like.
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