Apathetic Echidna Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 I've decided that procreation is a demographic so this should go here. My situation: When I was very small I decided I didn't want kids, which is something fairly common in my family so it was easily accepted. However at the beginning of the year I was almost overwhelmed by a sort of genetic guilt. On one side of my family I have a few distant cousins, but basically I am it, the last of the line. What really puts a point on it is my family technically is titled, so when we are gone the title has to go back 4 generations then down their descendants to find the next title holder. It isn't like I, or any kids I might have would hold the title anyway, but the fact that there is no one closer. I look at family portraits and think I am the end, it stops with me, and I feel so bad. But the reality of babies and toddlers freaks me out. I do like kids 8+, when they have conversations and intelligent understanding and aren't nearly so dependant. Ultimately I just wish the possibility was taken away so I wouldn't have these conflicting feelings which scare me more than anything. I am terrified my genetic guilt might overwhelm me and I do something stupid because it would only end badly. I know, sadly from experience with other families that the worst thing you can do is breed when you aren't sure. So these are my currently conflicting feelings but I am wondering if anyone else has felt something similar? is genetic guilt a real phenomena other people get? or maybe you have never been conflicted, I would love to know. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald Cheetah Posted November 16, 2018 Share Posted November 16, 2018 Yeah I definitely don't want to have kids either because the thought of those 9 torturous months and the fact that I'd have somebody who's dependent on me kind of ruins the whole thought for me. The "Genetic Guilt" you're mentioning makes sense. After all, it's only natural since the survival of our species depends on procreation. However at the end of the day, I look at the pros and cons, and having kids seems to have more cons in for me. However, the best solution that I can think of to such a problem is adoption. The child may not be your blood but they will still, in a sense, be a continuation of your family. They will become a part of your family tree. Not to mention, it's a great service because there are far too many children who never get adopted and never get to know what it's like to have a mother or father. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holmbo Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 On 11/16/2018 at 3:32 AM, Emerald Cheetah said: However, the best solution that I can think of to such a problem is adoption. The child may not be your blood but they will still, in a sense, be a continuation of your family. They will become a part of your family tree. Not to mention, it's a great service because there are far too many children who never get adopted and never get to know what it's like to have a mother or father. I also thought of adoption. I'm sure there are older kids in need of a home. Though, don't adopt one just to get a heir 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apathetic Echidna Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 @Holmbo the problem is I don't want kids. I like them in the sense that I can have a conversation then hand them back to their parents. I am feeling much better about everything but my issues weren't about being a parent, it was about continuing my genetics. Most of my post was about background to my question which was about whether or not other people seemed to experience 'genetic guilt', maybe as part of the 'biological clock ticking' fears that some women get. One solution would be donate eggs.....but ultimately I think my genetics are a bit whacky. Even if all the men in my family seem to turn out handsome, that is probably not a good convincing reason and which does not compensate for a predisposition for mysterious childhood-fever induced reactions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aro_elise Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 it ends with me, too. i'm an only child, my mom's an only child, and my dad has two sisters, one of whom has two kids, so we three are it. i don't feel badly though; i don't owe my parents anything, certainly not something which impacts my life and body in pretty much the most major way imaginable, and theirs in a minor way. even if i had a kid at the age they were when they had me, 38, they would be 76/77. they'd see them every so often for maybe a decade (my mom's family tends to live into their 90s but who knows), while i'd be with them every day for about two (and really the rest of my life), supporting them financially and caring for them on my own (no spouse/partner, right?) while i can't even do either of those for myself. and i don't want to. nothing about having kids appeals to me. there is no way i could endure pregnancy or labour (i couldn't even endure a procedure to prevent those things) and as i say, i don't want the next part, either; i want a fulfilling career, adventure and flexibility, and friends my own age, and yes, i'm confident that will be the case as long as i'm capable of having those things. i think i could be a great parent if i wanted to be (i've been babysitting for 8 years and i seem to be liked by kids and parents), but since i don't want to, i wouldn't be. it wouldn't be fair to me or the kid(s), so no, i'm not putting us all through that to let my parents see them part-time when they already had me full-time, by their choice. this is my choice. and i'll add that i've seen many parents who constantly complain about their kids and can't wait to get away from them--so have my parents, who can't relate--and just about all of them surely wanted those kids in the first place, or thought they did, so if you have any doubts at all, i urge you to give it the most serious consideration. the decision to have kids should require infinitely more of it than the decision not to, and it should be only for your own reasons. yes, as honourable as your intention to give a child a home by adoption may be (i do agree that this is a great option, especially as we don't need any more people in the world), if you're not absolutely willing and prepared to be a parent, it's a disservice to you both. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatingcroutons Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 (edited) . Edited September 1, 2021 by eatingcroutons 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holmbo Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 11 hours ago, Apathetic Echidna said: @Holmbo the problem is I don't want kids. I like them in the sense that I can have a conversation then hand them back to their parents. I am feeling much better about everything but my issues weren't about being a parent, it was about continuing my genetics. Most of my post was about background to my question which was about whether or not other people seemed to experience 'genetic guilt', maybe as part of the 'biological clock ticking' fears that some women get. One solution would be donate eggs.....but ultimately I think my genetics are a bit whacky. Even if all the men in my family seem to turn out handsome, that is probably not a good convincing reason and which does not compensate for a predisposition for mysterious childhood-fever induced reactions. I see, sometimes I tend to just extrapolate from peoples posts because I don't have a lot to say about the question itself I've never experienced what you're describing. But, on the other hand, I have three siblings. I suppose the closest I've come to it is to kinda want to experience pregnancy and thinking about maybe having a baby for another person. But in reality I would never do it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neir Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 It's not particularly popular at the moment (where I'm living at least), but there is the possibility of co-parenting. The work of raising a child is a lot more distributed between many people, and there is also the benefit of having a child you can call your own. A little like adoption but with a greater number of parents/role models that can each contribute to a child's development in different ways (including passing down a title if you so choose). I don't know much about legal stuff surrounding this issue, but I would look closely at the terms. It could be possible to give the title to someone you greatly mentor later in life, a good friend that will stick around, etc. All that said, guilt is one of the worst motivators to have when it comes to having children. Even if you don't pass that title down and continue the tradition, you can pass it to someone who you know will benefit from it. When historians look way way back at the lineage, it's not really as broken as you think it seems right now. There have been plenty of royalty that have had way more complicated passing-down tradition-changers and the titles/possessions they hold are still attributed to their family. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apathetic Echidna Posted March 12, 2019 Author Share Posted March 12, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apathetic Echidna Posted March 15, 2019 Author Share Posted March 15, 2019 On 3/12/2019 at 9:05 AM, running.tally said: It's not particularly popular at the moment (where I'm living at least), but there is the possibility of co-parenting. The work of raising a child is a lot more distributed between many people, and there is also the benefit of having a child you can call your own. A little like adoption but with a greater number of parents/role models that can each contribute to a child's development in different ways (including passing down a title if you so choose). I don't know much about legal stuff surrounding this issue, but I would look closely at the terms. It could be possible to give the title to someone you greatly mentor later in life, a good friend that will stick around, etc. I don't want kids. I certainly don't want to get pregnant. I don't want to be a parent. It was just for a period of time I had some serious psychological pain at the idea of being 'the end of the line', like I was betraying a debt to my ancestors or something. As for the title, well it would be a legal battle for recognition and I am not that interested. In Australia, unless you are British Royalty, nobility means nothing. (I did have a nicer worded and longer answer but that was when the glitch happened and I forgot what I said) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neir Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 (Lol no worries! XD I generally assume people on here are being respectful, nice prose or not.) I see! I understand better; I misinterpreted and thought you were still unsure about parenting. Honestly, the pain and confusion surrounding 'the line' is something really relatable and valid. Bloodlines are by no means the most important historical relationships, although they are definitely glorified. I'd like to think that my ancestors were too preoccupied by their own lives and needs and desires to really be concerned about whether their family would still have ownership over something beyond the time they could benefit from it. Not sure what I'm saying is remotely helpful, but I'll just reiterate that what you've felt is valid. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatingcroutons Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 9 hours ago, Apathetic Echidna said: It was just for a period of time I had some serious psychological pain at the idea of being 'the end of the line', like I was betraying a debt to my ancestors or something. To be fair, the reason the title has ended up in your branch of the family and not another is presumably due to reasons that are archaic, sexist, and to a large degree arbitrary. In that sense, aren't your distant cousins as much a continuation of "the line" as you are? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apathetic Echidna Posted March 15, 2019 Author Share Posted March 15, 2019 @eatingcroutons lol, the title inheritance is fully archaic and sexist (I won't get the title because I am a female and literally a bastard ) but the family name will die with me and when 'cousins' are so distant they no longer feel like family it hardly feels like continuation. It goes to that whole idea of everyone not of African descent can be traced back to 7 unique individuals, so we are all cousins of varying degrees but we are not one big family. Because I know the root of my problem is not tied into the 'biological clock ticking' phenomenon I can only assume my own issues are linked to my complex feelings about World War II, but it was looking at the family photos from around that time that started my guilt in the first place. So I don't really want to delve into it again to sort it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misanthropy Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 I'm an antinatalist so childless thankfully. I like kids though ( prefer them to most adults actually) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueKumul Posted June 13, 2019 Share Posted June 13, 2019 I like children, but I don't want to be a father. Didn't get well with my own, so don't want the experience to be replayed in another generation. Besides, I'd have to be in a relationship with the child's mother. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 13, 2019 Share Posted June 13, 2019 antinatalist so yeah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJB Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Childfree by choice forever and always Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlamillia Pixie Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Always a fun topic... kids. Yeah I never have, currently do not, and will never want to have kids/ be a parent. I do not have the patience for other adults let alone children, which is kinda a prerequisite for wanting to have kids. Don't get me wrong, kids can be sweet and interesting when I have to be around them for short periods of time, but I want no part of children nor raising them. The common theme in the this thread of "I will be the last of my family line", yeah I got some of that too. I have told to my parents that I do not want kids, and they are okay with it. I'm pretty sure my brother will never have kids either and my parents are okay with that too. My parents are okay with never getting grandchildren. Both sides of my family have other members in my generation that have already had kids or may have them in the future, so genes in some fashion will be passed down. So in conclusion, my parents have fully accepted and are okay with only getting "grand-kittens" from me because hi, crazy cat lady-in-training here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blake Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 I do not and will not have children. I have a brother and he doesn't want to have children also. We both know what we don't want: kids. Me, not from any kind; my brother still is debating if adopting or not. Both of my parents know of my choice, my father is not ok with it but I told him he can always have more kids if he wants grandkids. I had a bit of a genetic guilt at first, but at the end of the day it is my choice. No one is paying me, nor will raise a kid that I have, that would correspond me, so the choice is entirely up to me. Tbh, there are other factors that influence my choice, like the state of the economy, the future of the planet, etc. I do not want my kid to suffer like I have suffered, simple as that, and the best way of guaranteeing that I do not traumatize by accident my kid is to simply not have it. Family is the ties that you make, not the ones that where imposed. So in theory, you could adopt a kid that is 8+ and give it your last name, who would challenge you? By all legal means it is your kid so there is no room for debate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Angel of Eternity Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 I do not want kids. First off, procreation requires sex, and I am absolutely repulsed by sexual stuff (I'm asexual). I'd rather take a bullet to the head. Also, overpopulation is an issue today. I won't be contributing to that. I do, however, want pets (namely, a cat or two, and an African Grey). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qim Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 I don't want biological children, but I do want to adopt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roboticanary Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 I am at the moment totally uninterested in raising children. I like the idea of teaching children, did some mentoring back in uni and did a summer placement at a local school, but I do not like the idea of being a parent. The short of it is there is a limit to how much people contact I can deal with, which links back to my neurology I guess, and dealing with kids for long periods at a time totally turned me away from both teaching but also any desire for raising children myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mewix Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Hmm not sure I would want my own no nor adopt. I wouldn't mind babysitting maybe or teaching a tiny lil bit that kinda thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ettina Posted November 7, 2021 Share Posted November 7, 2021 On 5/12/2020 at 1:14 AM, The Angel of Eternity said: I do not want kids. First off, procreation requires sex, and I am absolutely repulsed by sexual stuff (I'm asexual). I'd rather take a bullet to the head. Also, overpopulation is an issue today. I won't be contributing to that. I do, however, want pets (namely, a cat or two, and an African Grey). Procreation doesn't require sex. I'm pregnant and I've never had sex. Also, human overpopulation is a myth to deflect attention away from the problem of unequal resource distribution due to capitalism. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karst Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 I don't want to have children for a few different reasons. - I just don't think that I'd be a very good parent. I like to have a lot of alone time, something that isn't really conducive to raising kids. - I'm AFAB, and the idea of being pregnant horrifies me. - There are some health issues in my family that might have a genetic component, and I don't want to pass them on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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