Comments on: On Aging: Serenity Prayer

By: mia

mia — Tue, 19 Apr 2005 01:54:05 +0000

This whole conversation has me in stitches. And Gina’s comment about remote controls hits the nail on. the. head.
they have these photo booths that take a picture of 2 people and show you what the kids would look like. I saw a down’s syndrome girl get in the booth with her dad. It was terrible and horrific that #1 the kid didn’t look too different than the girl does now – was that the problem?? and #2 – I am immediately going to hell and not passing Go or collecting $200 because I laughed

By: Gina

Gina — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 23:40:40 +0000

Great posts, great insights. I appreciated the comments on turning 40 and beyond…
I don’t really wonder what my future children will look like. “If” I have them. The question was an interesting one when I dated someone who was 6′ 6″ and had blonde hair and blue eyes, but now that I married someone who looks so much like me that people mistake us for sibs on a regular basis, it sort of takes the mystery out. Nothing but brunettes on either side, and somehow “I wonder if he’ll be 5′ 8″ or 6′ even” just isn’t as fascinating.
Still, I understand doing something for curiosity’s sake. I think I just gotta give it a shot, or I always would wonder “what they’d be like.” Nice selfless reason for starting a family, eh?
Maybe worse has been done. I’m still convinced my parents had us because remote controls hadn’t been widely marketed for televisions yet.

By: heidi

heidi — Sun, 10 Apr 2005 09:55:58 +0000

I am with you on this one. I pretty much have no interest in having children. I get pissed when someone says, “You don’t realize what life is about until you have a child.” What-the-hell-ever.
Truly, just like you can’t count on a husband to always be there for you emotionally or otherwise, you can’t count on your children to do shit for you when you age. They may. They may not.
And I always think, “What if I don’t like my kid?” It could happen! I think kids are cool to hang out with, but I just don’t have any desire to do it.
Interesting idea, though, of grieving that. Very insightful and thought-provoking. Even better, though, I love Fiorella’s thoughts on turning 40. Sounds fab.
I have wondered what my kids would look like, too. Further, I am an only child and I’ve wondered what my siblings would look like. Hopefully, I wouldn’t be “the ugly one.”

By: Quackin' Mad Duck

Quackin' Mad Duck — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 18:28:19 +0000

Interesting. I didn’t know it could be freeze-dried. I think I’m going to start saving mine…

By: Quackin' Mad Duck

Quackin' Mad Duck — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 18:28:19 +0000

Interesting. I didn’t know it could be freeze-dried. I think I’m going to start saving mine…

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 14:16:57 +0000

Brando – your generosity both humbles and disturbs me. I anxiously await my package, and am ecstatic that your wife is cool with having a mulletted, afro’d family in the Midwest. You’re the best!

By: brando

brando — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 05:52:17 +0000

god, what a great post, jen. really well written.
i can help you with that baby thing, though. look for a freeze-dried package in the mail. follow the instructions.
oh, she’ll have curly hair alright. in fact, she may be born with a mullet.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 05:13:40 +0000

Hey – who knew that I could save thousands of dollars on therapy by just listening to the sage advice of folks on the Internet? Thanks, gang!

And by the way, Fio – I’m really glad to hear about the bedpan thing. No, really!

By: Fiorello LaGuardia

Fiorello LaGuardia — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 01:58:48 +0000

It’s been a long time since I was in my early 30’s
From my perspective, the 30’s were akin to the teen years…UGH. You are always looking for something else. Even if you have the husband, the house, the kids…you can’t ignore that little voice that plaintively whines, “so this is IT, huh?” I remember being incredibly depressed on my 38th birthday, but completely happy on my 40th!
When you get to your 40’s and beyond, IMHO, life becomes really good. As long as you are healthy, the world is fun. And that’s not some “loser/acceptance” mentality re: the health thing. At some point, you start feeling that “It’s all a good thing.” Everything…really.
As far as the kids taking care of you in the home…pffft. Because, if you end up in a home, the last person you will want doing the bedpan thing is your child! Trust me on that one!!!!
There’s a good chance that the best is yet to come!

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 23:16:27 +0000

Hiya Jenny!

Wanna cure your occasional bouts of lack-of-child melancholy? Get a part time job at Chuckie Cheese or Discovery Zone. I truly believe that Chuckie Cheese is THE BEST form of birth control EVER! A few years ago I went to a bithday party for my Nephew at Chuckie Cheese. I got home at went striaght to WebMD to look at surgical baby-proofing options.

Another way to do it, is to find a newly babied or pregnant couple and put together a like budget. For every dollar they spend, put a dollar in a separate savings account account or purchase savings bonds. Budget for pre-natal care, remodeling the house to baby-proof it. Baby clothes, diapers, formula, immunizations, furniture, babysitters/daycare, a 4-door car, car seat, strollers, CHRISTMAS, Birthdays, overpriced family portraits at the mall, books, school fees, uniforms, cavity fillings, braces, obligatory school fund raisers, college tuition, back up funds for when they wreck your car, back up funds for when they are short on rent, and of course money for their therapy where they blame world hunger on YOU.

That should MORE than pay for a swinging singles retirement community beachfront condo.