Aw, shucks, Ike. Don’t sweat it. For those three months all I did was sit on my ass, watch my stories and eat Chee-tos. Did you know you can have welfare checks directly deposited? Son, go fetch mama’s pryin’ bar!
I also still have a problem with the word MOST. As I said before MOST of the parents I know make a concentrated effort to reduce the impact of their offspring on the adult world, and make every effort that their children turn out to be productive members of society.
I don’t live in New York, I’m in Minneapolis. Some of the parents I know had their kids young, some old; some planned some surprises; some are single parents, some have had long term stable marriages before breeding.
I agree with you, Dangerosa. Most is a strong word - I think it may just be a problem of perception. If a person doesn’t like kids, 80% of kids he is exposed to will behave in a way that is unacceptable TO HIM. Therefore he must assume that 80% of parents are merely “handlers”.
I dunno – kids are kids, you know? I never wanted to be the type of parent that was always shushing her kid, straightening his clothes, wiping his face every three minutes. Kids need to play, be loud, be dirty once in a while. As long as he’s not doing this in an inappropriate setting, everything’s cool.
Pyrronhist:
“They run around, hoop, holler, play cap gun warfare, cry in shopping markets, sing off key, bawl in restaurants, and generally make their presence known. Much like the swarm of gnats during a picnic lunch, you can swat at them, but they’re not going to go away.”
I’ll echo a sentiment and add my own comment. Your tax dollars don’t help me one wit. Today’s children make up the future Doctors, lawyers, garbagemen and the entire infrastructure that will support you in your old age.
If you don’t like children, you are free to live in one of those adult-only communities. When you venture into the public world children are just as much a part of it and have just as much right to be there as yourself.
My daughter is enthusiastic, but well-behaved.
Be advised and be wary though: The parental instinct is strong. I tell you without rancor, that any attempt to “swat” my daughter, would be met with immediate and extreme violence on my part.
I’m with Scylla. The closest I’ve come to real violence lately is when some idiot almost upset the Chanclings stroller at the beach a few weekends ago. I shoved him up against a wall and told him to be careful.
But I’m not like that usually.
Pyrrhonist- I rarely say this to anyone but after your comments here directed towards children and your comments about “limited people” I don’t think I like you.
You seem to be a trifle self absorbed and annoyed at anyone who might cramp your style be it a handicapped person or a child. Am I right in assuming that you would like to have these people kept out of sight so that they don’t bother anyone?
Here’s your wakeup call… It’s not going to happen.
I love children even though they can be little hellions at times. They eventually grow up, mature, and in most cases make a contribution to society. One of those children you so despise will be wiping the drool from your chin after they admit you to the nursing home so perhaps you should treat them with a little more kindness and respect. You were a child once too.
If I could temporarily afflict you with a disability I would. Perhaps Down’s syndrome. After a few weeks of having people treat you as a “limited person” your point of view would be radically altered. You would gain an even deeper appreciation of the blessings you enjoy in this life. Hell, you might even want to share a little of those blessings.