'Dr.' Keith,
I feel obligated to apologize to her (and many other parents) for the hatred that is spewed forth by many childfree people.
Being childfree is a valid personal choice. So just say that! Having kids doesn't interest you. Why feel the need to lambaste parents for making a different choice than you? How is that any better than parents who criticize the childfree?
>>I'm sorry you feel "obligated" Stacy. That must be a tremendous burden on your shoulders. But since you are not talking about me since I:
1) Spend my day with parents, everyday helping them to help their kids be better people. I work by referral so I must be doing something right.
2) Never spewed forth hatred, just my opinion. Sorry if you call it hatred.
I find it also interesting that you are here still. There are so many parenting boards out there. I had to do a few searches just to find this one. I have news for you, we are in the minority. The "hate" spewed forth that you refer to could easily be interpreted by many here from people who DO have children. They seem inundated by a whole slew of people trying to cajole and manipulate them into feeling guilty to have kids.<<
I didn't know you were the Hall monitor for this website. If all I had to do was say "that," I am certain this board would have no posts and we would all be unable to express what we feel unless you concurred.
Also, Stacy I disagree with you on a lot of things like you do with me. You assume a lot. Like WHY we are not having kids. I don't know why you have made your choices but I also feel the overpopulation of the world is out of control. Also, I can see that the DEFAULT in this society is to have kids. The expectation is real, palpable and powerful, and many have kids because of that. There are so many who do not even question it. I WANT them to come and see this board. I want them to see there is an opposing viewpoint to what they hear out there everyday.
This board is NOT a good representation of how things are. This world is way one sided with the "having kid" thing. People who do not want kids are the ones lambasted, they are pressured with/without words. In a society that already has this idea in it's fabric...socially, fiscally and mentally.
This board Stacy IS the alternative. This board is for people who are sick of the nonsense and they are saying it. It is not for you to say what is offensive and what is not. I am sure there are board moderators for that. Allow people to voice their opinions, do not be afraid of how someone will take it. That is not your place.
I am sure many clients of mine would want me to tell you to not try and defend them. Let them make their own mistakes, let them see what they are doing. Sometimes the truth is cold and dirty and there is no kind way to state it, we can whine and be stigmatized, or we can grow profoundly from it. Michelle is looking to be enabled, I see it everyday, and she found you.
Do you really think it was a mistake she bumbled here? Puhleeeze! If I were here, I would have clicked my browser in a new direction. A Parenting website is never far away and Google gives them thousands of hits. I would never have wasted my time writing what she did, unless...unless...
Unless I wanted secret sympathy from the people I wanted to be. To be accepted when I knew I made a mistake (her words). I wanted someone...anyone to understand that I'm not stupid (notice that this implies she thinks she is). Also, you both cunningly changed my words and wrote out of anger. You made false accusations, this is a sure sign of something else going on. If she indeed went through all she said, I have compassion for her. I think it is a testament she put up with it, but she was acting hurt and disgruntled. I thank God for my traumas, they create wisdom. If I were here I would not want you to defend me, but of course she probably will feel power from it.
This board is not here for a cordial invite to be loving to parents. This is "Married with no kids." I am married, and I have no kids. I do not "lambaste" people, I made my statement and two women on this board assumed a lot of stuff about me and changed my words. They said that I could state my opinion, but only how THEY wanted it.
Since Stacy said so here is my new post to amend the one above:
Ahem....: "Being childfree is a valid personal choice."
There, I said it...happy now?
Can we make up now?