General Discussion

calimary

(84,858 posts)

42. We took the guidance of ZPG (Zero Population Growth)

Fri Jun 21, 2024, 11:51 AM

Jun 2024

which basically recommended replacing yourselves. Two kids only. So that’s what we did. One of each. My husband later told me the main reason he didn’t want any more kids was that he saw what pregnancy did to me and what an ordeal it became for me. And he said he didn’t think I should have to go through that again.

I married a good guy.

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MineralMan CaliforniaPeggy TBF raging moderate senseandsensibility

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In another thread, one about extremes of weather, I noticed [View all] MineralMan Jun 2024 OP

Your decision is your decision. yagotme Jun 2024 #1

I just didn't want to spend my life taking care leftyladyfrommo Jun 2024 #107

When my current wife and I got married, she was thinking about having another kid. yagotme Jun 2024 #111

I, too, chose not to have children. Lonestarblue Jun 2024 #2

Exactly. MineralMan Jun 2024 #4

the same way we feel.... bahboo Jun 2024 #32

Amen! LoisB Jun 2024 #65

So many peolpe think that education only benfits the students who receive it. That's nonsense, soldierant Jun 2024 #97

thank you Skittles Jun 2024 #105

Yes many life styles/choices MotownPgh Jun 2024 #3

It always seemed odd to me. MineralMan Jun 2024 #6

We decided to have a couple children. They are now in their 30's and they have decided NOT to have children progressoid Jun 2024 #5

Three of my four children have made the same decision Mossfern Jun 2024 #23

I have always found it rather odd, particularly on DU. TwilightZone Jun 2024 #7

I've never understood the pro-procreation bit... Think. Again. Jun 2024 #8

It's a biological need. Just normal for a species MotownPgh Jun 2024 #54

Yes, I understand the survival of the species bit... Think. Again. Jun 2024 #69

I have never personally felt any social MotownPgh Jun 2024 #93

This is true. It's a tremendous drive, and can only be partly overridden by the rational brain... Hekate Jun 2024 #75

I agree about how forced parenthood can be used to enslave women... Think. Again. Jun 2024 #84

It keeps women dependent on men and out of the work force. Diamond_Dog Jun 2024 #82

Yes, I BlueSky3 Jun 2024 #108

Well said. I had been neutral about the subject seeing the benefits of not having children both for myself and earth captain queeg Jun 2024 #9

Post removed Post removed Jun 2024 #10

What a wonderful memory you have! MineralMan Jun 2024 #17

Okay, that's enough. Iggo Jun 2024 #24

Women get people's unsolicited opinion about their childlessness even more. CrispyQ Jun 2024 #11

That's definitely true. MineralMan Jun 2024 #18

This is January 2018 JustAnotherGen Jun 2024 #88

Those of us who teach leave a legacy of students taught. Children seem less necessary then. eppur_se_muova Jun 2024 #12

Not having children is a personal decision. patphil Jun 2024 #13

I made my decision not to have children and have not Polly Hennessey Jun 2024 #14

And yet we hear about populations getting older with no young people to fill posts question everything Jun 2024 #15

There are plenty of already born persons who would love these jobs that you speak of. 1WorldHope Jun 2024 #26

And then what? California and New Mexico suffer from chronic shortage of water question everything Jun 2024 #110

Growth is a Ponzi scheme Random Boomer Jun 2024 #28

The business environment will need less and less employees as time goes by Stargazer99 Jun 2024 #30

There are plenty of people for jobs - the issue is whether greedy owners will pay them. nt TBF Jun 2024 #98

In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't make any difference Kaleva Jun 2024 #16

Well, of course one person's choice does not affect MineralMan Jun 2024 #19

Thank you -- I knew at 12 I didn't want children obamanut2012 Jun 2024 #20

Thanks for your reply. MineralMan Jun 2024 #21

I made this choice too Johnny2X2X Jun 2024 #22

Life is filled with choices Random Boomer Jun 2024 #29

Another choice IbogaProject Jun 2024 #25

Thank you for your reflections on this MM. Quakerfriend Jun 2024 #27

I'm not sure about the tax breaks. MineralMan Jun 2024 #33

I think the point was climate change will have catastrophic consequences, surfered Jun 2024 #31

You're right, of course. MineralMan Jun 2024 #41

We have no children either and I often worry about the end. surfered Jun 2024 #43

I do, as far as that is possible. MineralMan Jun 2024 #50

Between all of them, my siblings produced 6 kids Bayard Jun 2024 #34

I'm concerned, too. I was concerned back in 1965. MineralMan Jun 2024 #37

China had a one child only policy.... rubbersole Jun 2024 #35

That's true, as far as it goes. MineralMan Jun 2024 #38

There were a couple of terrible, terrible flaws in their plan. #1 No social safety net for old people... Hekate Jun 2024 #78

I am trying to raise other people's kids to better aware and haele Jun 2024 #36

It's all really complex, isn't it? MineralMan Jun 2024 #39

Have kids or don't have kids. It's everyone's personal decision IMO and I support having that choice 100% Diamond_Dog Jun 2024 #40

I've heard this from rw family members (maga brother). rubbersole Jun 2024 #46

Listen, I've heard people complain about MotownPgh Jun 2024 #102

Arg ... Diamond_Dog Jun 2024 #104

We took the guidance of ZPG (Zero Population Growth) calimary Jun 2024 #42

I considered that, and decided that MineralMan Jun 2024 #45

calimary, I wish more men were like your husband Diamond_Dog Jun 2024 #53

It really nailed it into place permanently for me. calimary Jun 2024 #80

Even a normal pregnancy is trauma to a woman's body. Diamond_Dog Jun 2024 #81

No shit, Sherlock! And I went back for seconds. calimary Jun 2024 #83

My first labor lasted 40 hours start to finish. Diamond_Dog Jun 2024 #85

I got lucky in that department. calimary Jun 2024 #87

Unbelievable. That poor woman. Diamond_Dog Jun 2024 #91

Around the same time I made the decision not to reproduce for the exact same reason. camartinwv Jun 2024 #44

It's always an individual decision, or should be. MineralMan Jun 2024 #48

My high school class had an unusually large amount of only children. jimfields33 Jun 2024 #101

I am fully in favor of whatever people choose for themselves genxlib Jun 2024 #47

That's the only sensible thing. MineralMan Jun 2024 #49

Yeah....like this Bettie Jun 2024 #112

That sounds so "Un-DU'er" like to rail against someones personal decision like that. I did not see the thread but Cheezoholic Jun 2024 #51

I agree. I am responsible only for my own choices. MineralMan Jun 2024 #52

I never wanted to have children. (A bit off topic.) Dem2theMax Jun 2024 #55

Thank you for your reply. MineralMan Jun 2024 #57

I'm with you. I never brought children into the world, but Sogo Jun 2024 #56

I have no brief with those who did have children. MineralMan Jun 2024 #58

Hey MM DENVERPOPS Jun 2024 #59

Older Gen X were teh first gen to have a lower SOL than the previous one obamanut2012 Jun 2024 #66

I'm with you. I do have children, but with the way the world is right now judesedit Jun 2024 #60

Here, here! Charlie Chapulin Jun 2024 #61

A few years later (in '65 I was only 17) I made the decision to only have "replacements" i.e. 2 kids Hekate Jun 2024 #62

I know. I didn't expect to see the crisis develop as it has. MineralMan Jun 2024 #71

What is this choice of which you speak! Croney Jun 2024 #63

Unless it is a choice to do something that causes harm to others, I don't understand why a person's LoisB Jun 2024 #64

As a young man, I decided not to have children, with the caveat that the right woman could convince me, bluescribbler Jun 2024 #67

Yes. I have had to tell more than one person that. MineralMan Jun 2024 #72

If someone points out that an evil stupid person Arne Jun 2024 #68

Things always seem to reduce to the lowest common denominator... Think. Again. Jun 2024 #73

When I recently saw the documentary Arne Jun 2024 #74

If entropy has anything to do with it, devolution here we come. Think. Again. Jun 2024 #76

Not having children is good for the environment lakeguy Jun 2024 #70

Pawprint Arne Jun 2024 #77

I too made the same decision. I turned 70 this year. sarchasm Jun 2024 #79

I would have adopted or become a foster parent TexasBushwhacker Jun 2024 #86

I never wanted children, never did and neither did my two siblings. betsuni Jun 2024 #89

I feel that Unwind Your Mind Jun 2024 #103

Narcissists! Yes, same. betsuni Jun 2024 #106

same vow joanbarnes Jun 2024 #90

You were praciticing freedom Ohioboy Jun 2024 #92

The fact that others would criticize you for doing something senseandsensibility Jun 2024 #94

In those days it must have seemed to violate the whole purpose of life. NH Ethylene Jun 2024 #95

It is not just population size - rich countries and people are out-sized greenhouse gas generators. waterwatcher123 Jun 2024 #96

my cats + my art are my babies. and then there is my multitude of adopted collections. pansypoo53219 Jun 2024 #99

whoa, thank you Mineral Man... bluboid Jun 2024 #100

Your choice, of course. My main concern... Happy Hoosier Jun 2024 #109

Well, as long as seniors vote... MineralMan Jun 2024 #113

You may be in a position to not worry about it. Happy Hoosier Jun 2024 #114

Saying that the world is overpopulated by humans is a non-sequitur. hunter Jun 2024 #115