My children?

[foodservicesucks]

I once had an encounter with a guest buying food and a drink go like this:
Me: Hi, how may I help you? Would you like to try one of our refillable souvenir cups today? Refills are only $1.99.
Guest: No thanks. I'd like (food order) and a small Coke.
Me: Okay, (food order) and a small Coke?
Guest: Yeah.
Me: Alright, would you like to upgrade that to a large Coke? It's only 30 cents more for 12 more ounces of soda.
Guest: No. I don't have enough money...
Me: Okay, your total will be-
Guest: -but I guess you could give it to me for free... but then you'd lose your job... and then your kids would be unfortunate.

I was almost speechless the rest of the transaction. I'm a teenager- do I *look* old enough to have kids? Just weirded me out really badly. Also, he was an older gentleman, so that made it a little more awkward. He was really nice otherwise.

Just bizzare and creepy. He said it in a really creepy voice, too.

[MoonCat]

and then your kids would be unfortunate.

What the heck does that even mean?

[foodservicesucks]

I think he meant poor or something.

[Jester]

I'm a teenager- do I *look* old enough to have kids?

The 750,000 annual teen pregnancies in the U.S. and the 25,000 annual teen pregnancies in Ohio say, "Yes. Yes you do."

[hinakiba777]

...creepy.

That is such a weird strain of consciousness to come out of you asking if he wants to upsize his Coke. O.o

[bainsidhe]

I guess he was both trying to ask for free soda and trying to end the conversation. Fast.

And, though unsettling, that won't be the last time someone comments on whether or not you have (or should have) kids. I get tired of people asking why I don't have kids, if I don't like kids (since I don't have any, I guess people assume the worst) and people telling me I better work at getting kids soon, how old am I anyway. Guess I always wanted my life to first involve liking/loving/being committed to someone before I just randomly starting popping out kids. Some people are so damn rude.

[Jester]

I love kids. I am not anti-kid at all. I think kids are great.

I just don't want to raise kids.

Some people see this as a contradiction. I do not.

Some people insist on telling me that this will change, once I actually have kids. Well, since I have no plans of having them, it's a moot point. And I have to say, this last part is so smug and superior that it makes me rather nauseous. "Don't condescend me, man. I'll fuckin' kill ya."

[BlaqueKatt]

I get tired of people asking why I don't have kids, if I don't like kids (since I don't have any, I guess people assume the worst) and people telling me I better work at getting kids soon, how old am I anyway.

my answer is usually "why is my sex life and/or function of my reproductive organs any of your business?" And if they push the issue "I can't have kids, I'm sterile"

yup no blaquekittens for me and hubs, I got the snip years ago.

[MoonCat]

I love kids. I am not anti-kid at all. I think kids are great.

I just don't want to raise kids.

Some people see this as a contradiction. I do not.

Some people insist on telling me that this will change, once I actually have kids. Well, since I have no plans of having them, it's a moot point. And I have to say, this last part is so smug and superior that it makes me rather nauseous. "Don't condescend me, man. I'll fuckin' kill ya."

I used to get this. I have no problem with someone else's *well-behaved kids. *They are few in number.

I had a friend who used to get this question constantly from relatives: When are you going to have kids? Over and over again. Finally one day she burst out "When I'm GD good and ready!" They shut up.

[hinakiba777]

I'm really not looking forward to the kid question when I get older. As I do want kids, but at 22 I still haven't really dated anyone. I often worry that in my early thirties, if I am still unattached, people will start saying, "Why don't you have your own children? You teach elementary school, so you must like kids, so why don't you have any?"

And one day I will burst out, "Because no one wants to screw me! Can't make a baby if I'm not getting laid!" *clears throat* Yeah, sorry about that.

[Indigo]

I'm a few weeks shy of 22 and I've been getting the "So when're you going to get married and have kids" question for some time now. When people find out that I'm having a long engagement, they tell me I need to stop wasting my time and hurry up and get married already. I was actually told by one person that now that I had found myself a man I needed to get married and stay at home like a good little wife.

[42_42_42]

Rather rude of the SC to assume that the OP was a teen parent just because of working in a fast food type place.

I love kids. I am not anti-kid at all. I think kids are great.

I just don't want to raise kids.

Some people see this as a contradiction. I do not.

I hope you take this as a compliment, as it is genuinely intended as one: you would make a great father if you chose to be one. Not saying that just because you'd be awesome at it that you are somehow obligated to be one, just that you would be awesome at it if you were one.

Hope that make sense and lacks that smugness you dislike so much.

[Stryker One]

Just for Reference

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lina_Medina

MOD NOTE: Somewhat NSFW. Contains a picture of a nude 5-year old in a medical context

[Jester]

And if they push the issue "I can't have kids, I'm sterile"

yup no blaquekittens for me and hubs, I got the snip years ago.

"Because no one wants to screw me! Can't make a baby if I'm not getting laid!"

*sigh*

I've been saying it for years, in public and on this and other forums.

Just because you cannot give birth does not mean you cannot have children. There are countless children out there aching, praying, wishing upon every star they see for a good home and loving parents. And there are also many people who cannot reproduce for whatever reason. And that brings us to adoption. Something I have been a champion of for years.

I have heard the people who resort to fertility drugs say a variation of "we want our own children." To which I always say, "Talk to anyone who's adopted. Ask them who their REAL parents are. It sure as fuck isn't their birth parents!" Parents are not merely biological, and some people who have had children are piss-poor parents. Parenting is about raising and teaching children, and in the end, this is far more important to a child than actual bloodlines. Don't believe me?

Ask someone who was adopted!

When people find out that I'm having a long engagement, they tell me I need to stop wasting my time and hurry up and get married already.

Oh yeah, because getting married quickly has worked so well for so many other people. These people need to shut the fuck up and mind their own fucking business. They think quick marriages are a good thing? Then they can get them. But they need to leave people who don't agree with them the fuck alone!

I was actually told by one person that now that I had found myself a man I needed to get married and stay at home like a good little wife.

(checking the calendar) Nope, not 1952. So this person too can go fuck a rhino and mind their own damn business.

I hope you take this as a compliment, as it is genuinely intended as one: you would make a great father if you chose to be one.

Hope that make sense and lacks that smugness you dislike so much.

I take that as a very high compliment, and I thank you. Pretty much most of my friends agree with you, and surprisingly to some people, so do I. I know I would make a great father. I just don't want to be one.

And your comment was hardly smug, as you were telling me what would happen, not what should or will happen. And that makes all the difference.

[BamaBabe]

There are countless children out there aching, praying, wishing upon every star they see for a good home and loving parents. And there are also many people who cannot reproduce for whatever reason. And that brings us to adoption. Something I have been a champion of for years.

What burns me up is all those Hollywood folks adopting children from 3rd world countries, and ignoring the children here in America. Maybe it does involve a lot more bureaucratic red tape to adopt here, but if you have the money, what's the big deal?

Anyhoo, just my .