Parent jellies and childless jellies, do you feel you made the right choice?

Oh yes! I have a very rich life now but the richest part of it is what I share with my now adult sons. I was not a good parent to start with, it took lots of work and therapy for me to grow into being a mother and luckily, my sons love me very much..

I had a pregnancy scare years ago, and I’m still thankful to this day that it was just a scare. I probably wouldn’t trade my life for the life of any parent lol. No offense.

@Blackberry No offense taken. There’s no right or wrong answers.

Life without my children would have been (and is) unimaginable. Getting pregnant was an easy decision.

We’re still to make the choice, about whether we would like to have children in the future if mother nature is favorable to us.
I wish I will be a father one day, my girlfriend is not ready to decide (on what she wants) (yet)) we differ fifteen years in age.

Becoming a parent of biological children was one of my greatest desires in life and now that I have them, I have not changed my desire at all. Absolutely the right choice. We had to solve a lot of problems both to have children and to remain together as a family. It has not been easy. But it has been worth it.

Oh, yeah. I love my wife and furry babies more than anything or anybody. I don’t feel a lack in my life. But I’m still relatively young, and my wife is even younger. Never know what might happen. Neither of us want bio children, but fostering and maybe adoption is not unfathomable.

Being a parent to our 3 children is the greatest joy of my life. Our sons have turned out to be very intelligent, kind and respectful young men. It’s such a good feeling to know they actually enjoy spending time with their parents, even at the age of 17 and 19. Our daughter is following in her brothers footsteps and is also doing very well in school. She is very eager to learn new things. We are so proud of all of our children.

We made the right choice.

How am I supposed to know? None of us can answer this questions ‘cause no one will be like ‘no, I regret everything about my life.’ I don’t the life I’d have without my children and I therefore can’t compare. But, now that I have children, they’re one of the only things worth living for, for me.

I was almost 35 when I had KatawaGrey so I can say with more certainty than some posters that having lived an adult life both with and without a child, that I made absolutely the right decision. I’ve had a rich and full life without, I’ve had a richer and fuller life with.

Wasn’t so much a choice as an edict from life the universe and everything (twice we decided to “take our chances”.... we have two kids…) .

However, I don’t consider my children “accidents”. The word accident implies something bad has happened. I think of them as surprises, more along the lines of an unexpected gift.

Aside from my wife, my kids are the best thing that has ever happened to me.

I am not a parent. I have many regrets about it. I think my husband and I would have been good parents.

At the time and under the circumstances yes. Had I met my now fiancee ten years back though, I would have wanted to have a child with him. As it is, I can no longer make babies and since he already has three kids of his own, we’re fine. I think I would have been a good parent, I’ve been a good steparent.

I didn’t have my kids till I was 36 and I had 18 foot loose and fancy free years until I did. That whole time though I knew I wanted to and was going to have kids. Now I have a 15 yr old and 12 yr old and they have been by far the most rewarding years of my life….nothing comes close to sharing those wonderful moments of discovery and joy that life will bring to a child.

Oh yes, we are happy to be parents and couldn’t imagine our lives without our diva and princess! =0)

I’m not a parent yet. I do hope to be one day, but not any time soon. It scares me though.

@stardust If it scares you, you are on the right track to becoming a good parent.

Yep what @janbb said. If the prospect of being a parent does not absolutely terrify you, you probably aren’t ready to become a parent.

I’m the only one without lurve. Hmm…

Sorry @tinyfaery – FWIW I think that fostering is an excellent choice.

What makes you think that one condition or the other is always a choice?

@marinelife In the spirit of the question…it is asking about the choices that were made not the inability to do one or the other.

My dad was just talking to me the other day about this. He was thanking me for not aborting when I found out I was pregnant in high school. He said he can’t imagine life without her now. This was all after she told him, “Hey Papa, you my best fwind. I wuv you.”

@redfeather : Both of my staunch conservative Republican parents were horrified at me choosing to have a bastard child granted, I was 34, not in high school and both of them are grateful that I did this. Something about a grandchild…

My parenthood was accidental and I probably would not have chosen it at that time. But I have no regrets.

Oh yes! Oh yes! Having two little children changed my life for the better——made me more sensitive to the world around me, more compassionate, more gentle, more loving, more protective, even more masculine as a man. All of a sudden, I became my children’s provider, protector, educator, and nurturer. And in return I got a monumental supply of unconditional love from them, and a wealth of cool experiences.

I am an only child of an only child and my daughter is my only child.

I LOVED being a mommy, and I now, equally love being a friend to my daughter who is turning 24 in November.

We share a lot of similar interests and humor and I am tickled to observe her as the final “product.” haha

I knew I wanted “A” child, I also knew I wasn’t cut out to hatch a clutch of them. lol

It;s all good!

I didn’t plan on being a parent at my age and wasn’t sure that Id be one at all. Its not been very long but the changes that its given me i’m thankful for. I honestly didn’t think I had the capability of loving a person until I met my son. Now I am most grateful that he is mine and not someone else’s because he is autistic and I know that I am the right person to help him get the support he needs to be the person he will be one day.

There is no experience like that of being a parent.

Awww…group hug…see, gotta focus on the commonalities instead of the differences.

@stardust

Yes, being scared is a GOOD thing!

I was terrified and actually went to a few therapy appointments to discuss my fears and concerns if I would be a good enough parent. I didn’t have a close relationship with my mother.

The therapist sent me on my way after the 3rd appointment with a ” I think you are a going to be a GREAT parent!” Sooo…into the wild I went. lol

Although my marriage failed, I KNOW I did a good job with my daughter, not perfect, no parent is, but now…I am SO PROUD to see what a great girl I raised! :-D

Ya know, kids are resilient and as long as you are honest with them and share your yourself, it all turns out just fine!

I’m 22, and honestly- I love kids, however-
I really have no desire to have any.
Alot of people tell me I’ll change my mind, but I really
don’t think that I will and I’m ok way that.
I am really glad though, to read about all of the loving
and supportive parents on fluther.
I have a great set of them myself :]

No babies, no rabies