Parenting

[K C Muffin]

Being financially ok is just one facet of raising a child. I believe to each his own but I see too many young people out there with kids that don't have their basic needs met let alone their wants. I personally didn't want to be "that guy". I understand that you make due with what you have but I wanted to be in the situation of (for example) not just buying a car seat to check the block of having a car seat but to be able to buy a high quality, higher safety rating car seat.

I hear what you're saying, but those kind of parents (the car seat example) aren't buying the cheaper model because they can't afford it, they're buying the cheaper model because they don't really have the brains to understand the need for a good carseat and they don't want to spend any more than necessary to "check the box". My son & his soon-to-be-ex wife don't have extra cash, but that kid is well-fed, happy and growing (and has a nice car seat!). They might have made a mess of their own lives, but they're making sure the kid is OK.

[357 mag]

I hear what you're saying, but those kind of parents (the car seat example) aren't buying the cheaper model because they can't afford it, they're buying the cheaper model because they don't really have the brains to understand the need for a good carseat and they don't want to spend any more than necessary to "check the box". My son & his soon-to-be-ex wife don't have extra cash, but that kid is well-fed, happy and growing (and has a nice car seat!). They might have made a mess of their own lives, but they're making sure the kid is OK.

Exactly, and that's when "kids needs come first over what the parents want/need" I can't count the times that I've gone without something because my kids needed something! Little boogers grow too fast! I swear I'm constantly having to buy new clothes because they outgrow the one's you buy in a few short months!

[JayhawkMom]

Becoming a parent was the greatest thing I've ever done. I always knew I wanted children.......it has been the funniest, scariest, saddest, joyful, fullfilling, most wonderful experience that I can imagine.

I can't think of anyone or anything that I'd rather do than be with my kids. They are the most fantastic people in the world.....

I had my first child at 21.....and I wouldn't take it back for all the money in the world.

[hoarsewhisperer]

Becoming a parent was the greatest thing I've ever done. I always knew I wanted children.......it has been the funniest, scariest, saddest, joyful, fullfilling, most wonderful experience that I can imagine.

I can't think of anyone or anything that I'd rather do than be with my kids. They are the most fantastic people in the world.....

AMEN!

Jackknife, I'd like to think you will "just know" when/if the time is right. :) But there is ONE CERTAINTY with children....There are NONE- NO Guarentees-NO refunds or returns. :D -but I can honestly say I really had no idea what True Love was until I had mine. :opensmile:

[Made in the USA]

I do have a dream of adopting an older child in a few years though depending on where we are in our lives.

Pick me, Pick me!!! I'm potty trained and everything! :haha:

[Jolly Rancher]

Becoming a parent was the greatest thing I've ever done. I always knew I wanted children.......it has been the funniest, scariest, saddest, joyful, fullfilling, most wonderful experience that I can imagine.

I can't think of anyone or anything that I'd rather do than be with my kids. They are the most fantastic people in the world.....

I had my first child at 21.....and I wouldn't take it back for all the money in the world.

How hard was the delivery of a 21 year old?

[K C Muffin]

Exactly, and that's when "kids needs come first over what the parents want/need" I can't count the times that I've gone without something because my kids needed something! Little boogers grow too fast! I swear I'm constantly having to buy new clothes because they outgrow the one's you buy in a few short months!

One word: Ebay. You can buy an entire wardrobe there! Not that I have - I just notice they sell an entire season's worth of clothes for a munchkin for something stupid like $50. Course sometimes you get what you pay for...

[Made in the USA]

I tried to sell my kids on E-bay once. I changed my mind when they demanded a lifetime warranty! ;)

[Justoo]

I tried to sell my kids on E-bay once. I changed my mind when they demanded a lifetime warranty! ;)

Were they from Nebraska?

[Detector]

I believe it's not the good times, but the bad times that define a parent. It's not hard for a parent to shine when things are going well, what's tough is being a good parent when times are bad.

My parents divorced when I was about 7 years old. My mom was left to raise 6 boys on her own. Not an easy task in the 60's for a male much less a female. She never received one cent of welfare, government or my dad, but still managed to feed us, cloths us, provide a home and the self esteem that made us feel just as well off as anyone. Not one did I ever think myself as poor. In fact, I felt I was better off than most of the people I knew.

She had to work but still knew the importance of keeping us in public activities. We were in Little League Baseball, she was a coach. We were in the Little Britches Rodeo every year, she handmade our western outfits. We were in Club Scouts and Boy Scouts, she was a den mother. She was also on the school parent teach board.

If I had one line to describe our family trait, it would be the ability to stand tall through adversity.