It almost feels like a betrayal just to think about it. Like by somehow pointing out the good things about life without children would be to say if you had it to do again you wouldn’t have them. I have a few simple words:
Selfish
Freedom
Quiet
Different
Empty
I have always known I would have kids. It was never a question, kind of like college. I always knew I would go, it wasn’t a case of asking myself whether I would or not. But what would life be like without kids, there’s a good chance I may not be married for one. And well that would be very lonely. Sure I would be able to get off work and do whatever I wanted to do. No rushing home so that Jeramie can take his mom home. I could run errands. I could meet up with a friend for coffee. I could go to the gym and stay as late as I wanted. I could go for an outdoor run whenever I wanted. I could take up bike riding as well. I would have more money to spare for sure. I could spend all my extra money on myself and not have to buy a new seasons worth of clothes for all my kids every year. Clearly there are tons of very selfish reasons to think that not having kids would be great in some ways.
But then there are other things that wouldn’t be so great. Christmas morning without children? I can’t even imagine. There would be no magic. What would we do if we weren’t assembling new toys? Sitting around watching TV? I think it’s kind of weird for adults to go to Disneyland without children. Maybe I just think like that because I’ve only ever gone as a child or with my own children. It wouldn’t be the same going there without kids. You can’t get that magic the same way. Without children you wouldn’t get to see things as an adult through your children’s eyes for the first time. Let’s face it there are certain things we do not remember seeing or experiencing for the first time because we were so young. With children you get to experience some of that. Without children I would waste more time. I would sleep in later, and what’s that other than a total waste of precious time? I would probably watch more TV. Without children of my own I would be more judgmental of those that have children. I mean let’s all face it raising “good” children looks pretty easy until you’re actually doing it. It’s far harder than it looks.
I guess that all comes back to a lot of selfish behaviors. My children make me a better person. I try to set an example to them. So if they weren’t there then perhaps I wouldn’t make that effort. So I guess while it’s interesting to think about some of the great ways your life could have been different without children. At the end of it all you would miss out on so much. I would never trade my kids even on a bad day. They bring so much more to my life that just wouldn’t be there without them. But I guess that wasn’t really the question. The question was just how would it be different, not if it would be better or worse. Guess I missed the mark. Oh well, this is the first time I’ve tried one of these writing workshop/challenges.
Life without these guys?
No. Way.
