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me_irl (lemmy.world)
submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[-] [email protected] 104 points 5 months ago

The worst part is your job thinking you can work infinite hours because you dont have a kid. Its a fucked up tax.

[-] [email protected] 46 points 5 months ago

I have a sick (but not dying) sister with 3 kids. As far as work are concerned, I visit every fortnight to help out and rush up to see them every time there's an emergency or they need childcare.

I haven't seen the sister in four years and only see my nephews twice a year when they visit Grandma but work don't need to know that

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[-] [email protected] 28 points 5 months ago

just lie and tell them you have a kid

double down, even, and tell them the kid has a debilitating chronic disease that you regularly need to take time off work to bring to appointments and provide support for.

now you have even more free time

[-] [email protected] 15 points 5 months ago

I've heard that if you let the government know about your child, they even give you free money!

[-] [email protected] 14 points 5 months ago

I don't feel the need to defraud the government and our limited social welfare taxes. I'll happily tell my employer white lies about family who don't exist, but never the government.

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[-] [email protected] 22 points 5 months ago

Do you not have a contract on how many hours you sell to your job each week?

[-] [email protected] 14 points 5 months ago

Lunatic Americans have an honor code, who works more hours-competition to maybe one day perhaps get a promotion....

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[-] [email protected] 11 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Americans outside of trades: "Contract"? What's that? Is that like when my employer makes me sign papers saying I can't sue them if I get hospitalized because of their negligence?

[-] [email protected] 18 points 5 months ago

Protip: you don't owe your employer an explanation for turning down overtime, for refusing to do unpaid work, for refusing to pick up extra shifts, or for not being able to participate in heroics or death marches.

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[-] [email protected] 92 points 5 months ago

To remind everyone, you are allowed to get a vasectomy for whatever reason you want. No one is forcing you to have children you don’t want, can’t afford, etc. If you’re told no, find a different fucking doctor.

Also remember, children never fix a broken relationship.

[-] [email protected] 32 points 5 months ago

Look at this guy, with his penis, assuming everyone has a penis as well. /s

Conservatives in the US are working very hard at forcing women to have children, especially when they can't afford them.

[-] [email protected] 24 points 5 months ago

"Oh, you're so young, you'll change your mind in the future." -Doctors when women insist they want tubal ligation

[-] [email protected] 17 points 5 months ago

What you need to do is find yourself a lawyer who surfs so you get tubular litigation.

[-] [email protected] 14 points 5 months ago

Children are an STD.

source: I was an STD.

[-] [email protected] 11 points 5 months ago

STDs are treatable. Did your parents treat you well?

[-] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago

I don't even need that. I don't gamble. One of my friend's dad had a vasectomy. It didn't spare him living.

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[-] [email protected] 63 points 5 months ago

Meh, it gets a bit unsettling and empty when you get into your 40s. At least it did for me. We had a kid (much) later in life and I'm glad we did. We had our DINK fun in our 30s, and I still long for those days sometimes. But having a kid is like filling a hole you didn't realize you had. And there are moments of joy and bonding that are simply indescribable.

Anyway, to each their own.

[-] [email protected] 23 points 5 months ago

to each their own

This is kinda my message to OP et al. You do you, you don't have to try to shame people who choose something else.

Admittedly, there's a "having kids" version of CompHet, like, people sometimes have kids because they feel like they have to, like they're supposed to, not because they want to, and that's dumb. But those people aren't addressed by the message of the OP, nor are they provided insight into the reality of OP's wisdom: you don't have to if you don't want to.

And some parents are fucking annoying. They think they're more important than everyone else (even their own kids) because they chose to take on more responsibility. No DINK should ever have to give up their spot in line, or work longer hours, because of your smug self-righteousness. But -- again -- these people aren't addressed by OP. (And, importantly, not all parents are like that.)

I have kids and I love having kids. I have no qualms with anyone who doesn't have kids. I sometimes have qualms with people who do have kids. Fight the real enemy.

[-] [email protected] 13 points 5 months ago

We're in our 40's. Wanted kids but couldn't have them. It was hard, and sometimes still is, but we're the cool aunt/uncle and we're making the best of the extra freedom and money we have.

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[-] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago

it gets a bit unsettling and empty when you get into your 40s.

that's a mid life crisis. I'm glad having a kid helped you through it. Also a better option than running away with a hooker, maybe.

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[-] [email protected] 40 points 5 months ago

Super eco friendly and anti-consumerism too.

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[-] [email protected] 32 points 5 months ago

It’s a wonderful life, not having children. Well, a less shitty one, anyway.

[-] [email protected] 15 points 5 months ago

Life with a kid has been anything but shitty but ymmv

[-] [email protected] 13 points 5 months ago

Maybe take your kid to the doctor if no shit has been involved so far.

[-] [email protected] 27 points 5 months ago

I wouldn't attempt to persuade anybody to have children, but being a dad has been the best thing in my life bar none. I was that rare custodial single dad to a daughter and certain years of financial struggle aside, I wouldn't trade the experience for all the wealth on the planet.

She's grown now. Today it's a friendship/mentor/advisor relationship in which we play the mentor/advisor role with each other. I give her guidance, and she does the same for me.

She has no plans to have children because she sees bringing a child into this shit stain of a timeline as a moral failure, and I'm fine with that.

She says she may adopt someday, and as the son of a mother who suffered the American foster care system, I can't see that pursuit as anything other than noble.

But really. If you're happy not having kids, I support that. I truly do.

I'll conclude with this - she made me a better person, and for that, I'll be eternally grateful.

[-] [email protected] 23 points 5 months ago

[wipingTearsWithWadsOfMoney.gif]

[-] [email protected] 21 points 5 months ago

The worst part of being a parent is other childrens' parents. The kids themselves (mine at least) are great. Other people's kids are feral though.

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[-] [email protected] 15 points 5 months ago
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[-] [email protected] 15 points 5 months ago

As I write this, a neighbor's child is bawling publicly outside my home.

Yeah, all parents seem to want to tell us how their life was meaningless before they had kids, but I'm good.

I've seen some of the most insanely inappropriate behavior from kids. Yes the fault is mainly the parents but the other day a child literally tried to take my milkshake because they could. It was awkward and if I'd been a couple steps further away I think the kid would've grabbed it out of the worker's hand. The parent said nothing, probably because they spend all day every day saying no and it's exhausting.

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[-] [email protected] 12 points 5 months ago

But then you don't get any crappy gifts on Father's Day 🤷‍♂️

[-] [email protected] 22 points 5 months ago

Says who? You can afford to get yourself a nice lego set every holiday, you ain't got no crotch fruit taking all your moneys

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[-] [email protected] 11 points 5 months ago

That's the best.

[-] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago
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this post was submitted on 09 Feb 2024
1062 points (95.2% liked)

me_irl

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