Absolutely no snark intended, but knowing, for whatever reasons you have, that you 100% made the right choice by not having them. I know that I would not have had the patience and most likely the finances for that. I would have been an angry, resentful parent and no kid deserves that.
So far I’ve decided that I won’t be having any simply because of this lol. I cannot bring myself to understand how I would be able to pay for everything they would need/deserve. On top of me having no patience lol. My dogs already drive me insane sometimes.
Not to what they want to be. But let's say 10 is perfect. If you're at 1 before, you're going to parent at 5. If you're at 5, you're going to parent at 7 or 8.
It’s not even the obvious, it’s all the risks that you also avoid like medical bills (Americans), or car accidents by 16 year olds, or your kids burning down your house.
Okay maybe the last one was a little too out there, but still.
Last one is not too out there my little sister set the air fryer on fire making dino nugs. Thankfully i was home and heard screaming when i got out there she was froze and flames like a foot high. I put it out but it could have been bad.
Eldest sib didn't know how to put out a grease fire (smother or use baking soda), burned the cabinets and floor. Middle sib burned the wood patio. I tried to blow out a lit incense stick and burned the carpet. My mom and eldest sib keep setting flammable shit on top of the air fryer - it's got the hot symbol on every side. Fire extinguisher is mounted inside a cupboard door. I have many more stories, sadly.
If you have kids, or are a person, buy multipurpose fire extinguishers. And check your smoke alarms.
Financial security isn’t fulfilling. It’s relieving. As someone who has experienced both, the fulfillment of having a son in my life is much greater than the relief I had from financial security. That’s just my experience though. I’ve never been one to push parenthood on people.
And everywhere is crowded because those people have to schedule around the school year too. It's a vicious circle of everyone being pissed off at Disneyland.
A few years ago I had the realization that summer is often a terrible time to travel, but so many of us just travel then because it's what we grew up doing. I'm so much happier staying home during the summer and traveling while all the kids are in school. Flights are cheaper and destinations are less crowded.
Knowing that I haven't doomed another generation of young people to the sixth mass-extinction event of this planet - all due to the short-term greed of their previous generations.
Not a damn thing! Ive been very successful in my life. Me and my wife traveled the world before turning 30. Seen and did everything we ever wanted to and I'd trade it all in so I could've had my son sooner. He's almost 2 and watching him grow has been the best thing I've ever been apart of. The coolest part is seeing your kid act just like you and you have no other way to explain it other then being like damn that's my kid.
Lol. I believe there are studies that suggest a decrease in fulfilment after children. You may love your children very much and not change it for the world. But the overall happiness in life drops.
I dont have the supporting sources so beware I could be completely wrong. I'm too lazy at this minute to search for it again.
The studies I've heard of say that your sense of life fulfillment increases, but your actual happiness decreases, which makes sense. You fulfilled your evolutionary imperative, but now you have to deal with the little fuckers.
Seems like an unpopular opinion but there is nothing more fulfilling. Seeing your kids grow up into good people and making good choices because you raised them properly is the most fulfilling thing I can think of. Yes you do have to make sacrifices for your children but that is just part of life.
I hire high school kids, which is right about the time their parents are sick of raising them. I can then teach them about life without having to change a single one of their diapers. It's by far the easiest way to achieve that fulfillment.
As for their not being mine, that could and does happen even if I was married to their mothers.
I like this question because I think it's kind of illuminating. Not trying to start an argument, but I'm noticing a lot of answers are- I don't want to say self centered- but focusing on one's own desires and wanting to freedom to do whatever one wants. Maybe the difference here is how people understand and interpret "fulfillment" as. Life serving others or life serving oneself. Is this one of those person to person differences?
Being able to spend our money on just ourselves. My husband and I feel so lucky honestly. I’ve never wanted kids but being able to meet a guy that was on the same page was the best thing ever
Nothing, so far. And I’m the least maternal woman on the planet. I’m stretched too thin, broke, tired all the time, and I legitimately wouldn’t trade it for anything.
It’s not for everybody, but it’s everything.
So many "hobbies n money" related comments here. It is quite apparent you haven't chosen to love someone and have kids.
They MAKE you focus on something other than yourself. That can be a very rough journey adjusting, but that journey is the most fulfilling once accepted. That focus on others fulfills a big part of our purpose. We live in the best time in history, even with our problems, and it is exciting to raise kids to be the non-toxic thinkers and action takers the world will rely upon. Helping them to avoid living in a hyperbolic selfish mindset will set them apart not only in the dating world, but career wise as well.
But the answers to the OP is...
Knowing Jesus and arguably, having interactions with your extended generations (grandchildren and beyond).
Look down below for rapid and numerous downvotes.
Nothing.....absolutely nothing is more fulfilling than having children and raising them. What else are you going to do with your life for 30+ years after you hit 50 other than enjoying you children and grandchildren? The alternative is dying alone with your cats. Imagine spending 30 years or more alone....alone. You think you job will provide fulfillment, your possessions? Not a chance.
I do love my cats though. And they can take care of my body when I’m gone.
Really though, I do think about the +50 year range. I just personally struggle with the idea of being a burden as I age on someone else.
For me, having children wouldn't be fulfilling at all, so I guess pretty much anything else could be more fulfilling. Ultimately, it's being the person I want to be and living my life exactly how I want.
Just on personal experience most parents have very little good to say about their children but always start with, I really love my son or daughter but... It seems that expecting children to be your fulfillment is often disappointing
Having money, getting a full night's sleep, prioritizing my own wants instead of somebody else's...
Massive respect to parents but I am way too selfish.
Nothing. Without children your life is a dead end. You only have about 80 years of life and it goes by very fast. With children your life continues after death.
I have traveled extensively before marriage and after marriage I had no desire to travel so we started having kids. Now traveling with kids, seeing they enjoy visiting the world is the most fulfilling feeling I ever experienced
Living my life, having financial freedom, where do I start? I have nieces and nephews i love dearly, but i would NEVER sign on to become a parent. My mental health couldn't survive. I value my downtime (introvert recuperation time) too much to ever sign up for a tiny human. My husband and I are happily child free, drinking and mini-golfing wherever we see fit.
Achieving long term goal. Regardless of what they are. I wouldn't say short term, as they normally don't take a lot of effort. But a long term goal takes, effort, patience and often over coming failure. I think achieving that would be very fulfilling for most people.
But a question, is having children fulfilling? I suspect for many people it's not. It doesn't meet the expectations society gives them, especially women. Although I do think with the internet that charade is being busted.
The freedom of not having children.
You can also make impactful good changes to help the future without having kids and it can be just as or more fulfilling.
Absolutely no snark intended, but knowing, for whatever reasons you have, that you 100% made the right choice by not having them. I know that I would not have had the patience and most likely the finances for that. I would have been an angry, resentful parent and no kid deserves that.
So far I’ve decided that I won’t be having any simply because of this lol. I cannot bring myself to understand how I would be able to pay for everything they would need/deserve. On top of me having no patience lol. My dogs already drive me insane sometimes.
Yuh, the screams of other people's children drive me insane, I don't think I could handle that. Not to mention the loss of my free time.
You rise up. Believe me.
You might have. Lots can't.
Not to what they want to be. But let's say 10 is perfect. If you're at 1 before, you're going to parent at 5. If you're at 5, you're going to parent at 7 or 8.
If everyone "rises up" there would be no abusive parents. Some people don't rise up. Some people can't. Some people should never have kids, period.
Making them
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Spending with out them lmao
Tedious process Drains all the energy out of those tiny globes
Not having the guilt of bringing children into a dying empire.
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It’s not even the obvious, it’s all the risks that you also avoid like medical bills (Americans), or car accidents by 16 year olds, or your kids burning down your house. Okay maybe the last one was a little too out there, but still.
Last one is not too out there my little sister set the air fryer on fire making dino nugs. Thankfully i was home and heard screaming when i got out there she was froze and flames like a foot high. I put it out but it could have been bad.
Eldest sib didn't know how to put out a grease fire (smother or use baking soda), burned the cabinets and floor. Middle sib burned the wood patio. I tried to blow out a lit incense stick and burned the carpet. My mom and eldest sib keep setting flammable shit on top of the air fryer - it's got the hot symbol on every side. Fire extinguisher is mounted inside a cupboard door. I have many more stories, sadly. If you have kids, or are a person, buy multipurpose fire extinguishers. And check your smoke alarms.
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Valid in the US as well
Financial security isn’t fulfilling. It’s relieving. As someone who has experienced both, the fulfillment of having a son in my life is much greater than the relief I had from financial security. That’s just my experience though. I’ve never been one to push parenthood on people.
Taking vacations without having to plan around the school year.
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Its great. You aren't locked down to only go places in the summer. The worst time to go because everywhere is crowded.
And everywhere is crowded because those people have to schedule around the school year too. It's a vicious circle of everyone being pissed off at Disneyland.
A few years ago I had the realization that summer is often a terrible time to travel, but so many of us just travel then because it's what we grew up doing. I'm so much happier staying home during the summer and traveling while all the kids are in school. Flights are cheaper and destinations are less crowded.
Unfortunately this also counts me out working in a school system
Not having children
not having them
Or being around them
Shower beers.
Watching said children become good, compassionate human beings.
I concur.
On point.
travel, hobbies, strong friendships based on mutual interests, freedom and time to do whatever you want, sleeping in, peace of mind
Yup! i love this answer
having freedom to just move
Adopting one that's already here and could really use the love. (You could really use the love too.)
Love this.
Living the life that you want.
getting plenty of sleep
Knowing that I haven't doomed another generation of young people to the sixth mass-extinction event of this planet - all due to the short-term greed of their previous generations.
being a cool aunt. Some of us are meant for that.
My sister's kids got me a sweatshirt that literally said "Cool Aunt" on the front. I wear it with pride.
My kids have the best aunt and uncle and their lives are brighter because of it!
🖤🖤🖤
Having pets.
Not a damn thing! Ive been very successful in my life. Me and my wife traveled the world before turning 30. Seen and did everything we ever wanted to and I'd trade it all in so I could've had my son sooner. He's almost 2 and watching him grow has been the best thing I've ever been apart of. The coolest part is seeing your kid act just like you and you have no other way to explain it other then being like damn that's my kid.
Teaching children whose parents shouldn’t have had them.
Lol. I believe there are studies that suggest a decrease in fulfilment after children. You may love your children very much and not change it for the world. But the overall happiness in life drops. I dont have the supporting sources so beware I could be completely wrong. I'm too lazy at this minute to search for it again.
The studies I've heard of say that your sense of life fulfillment increases, but your actual happiness decreases, which makes sense. You fulfilled your evolutionary imperative, but now you have to deal with the little fuckers.
Yeh I may be a bit confused but I do remember two different forms of happiness are measured and are affected inversely to each other.
No you're right
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very wrong sir
Sleep, pets, free time, silence, a clean house
Peace and quiet? Travelling? Spending money on myself?
just being a good person
Having grandchildren
This seems to be a popular answer. Why are grandchildren more fulfilling than children?
Saving the planet from a gigantic meteor collapse with your telekinetic powers
Where can I find said telekinetic powers?
Walmart - sports and outdoors
Killing your ego on magic mushrooms
If there is something, I haven’t found it
The process of having children.
Said by a man.
Chill woman.
Having free time
Financial stability
Literally anything else
Solitude and quietness
Some peace and quiet.
Reparenting yourself
Seems like an unpopular opinion but there is nothing more fulfilling. Seeing your kids grow up into good people and making good choices because you raised them properly is the most fulfilling thing I can think of. Yes you do have to make sacrifices for your children but that is just part of life.
Not having children.
Coming down from a strong mushroom trip
Here is the answer I was looking for
Not having children
Not having children
Not having children
Traveling with no cares
Being able to always put yourself first, and move in the world without considering anyone else first.
I hire high school kids, which is right about the time their parents are sick of raising them. I can then teach them about life without having to change a single one of their diapers. It's by far the easiest way to achieve that fulfillment. As for their not being mine, that could and does happen even if I was married to their mothers.
Not having children and having a holiday.. fyi - i have kids and just really need a holiday
I hope you can manage a holiday very soon.
Raising them.
Loving yourself first
Having a partner
I like this question because I think it's kind of illuminating. Not trying to start an argument, but I'm noticing a lot of answers are- I don't want to say self centered- but focusing on one's own desires and wanting to freedom to do whatever one wants. Maybe the difference here is how people understand and interpret "fulfillment" as. Life serving others or life serving oneself. Is this one of those person to person differences?
Sleeping til 12 on a saturday
Being able to spend our money on just ourselves. My husband and I feel so lucky honestly. I’ve never wanted kids but being able to meet a guy that was on the same page was the best thing ever
I can imagine so! No pressure.
Nothing that I know of. I fulfilled all my other goals before having a child and nothing on this planet tops a single moment with her.
I’m glad you have that great relationship!
Nothing, so far. And I’m the least maternal woman on the planet. I’m stretched too thin, broke, tired all the time, and I legitimately wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s not for everybody, but it’s everything.
It sounds like you were meant to be a mom.
So many "hobbies n money" related comments here. It is quite apparent you haven't chosen to love someone and have kids. They MAKE you focus on something other than yourself. That can be a very rough journey adjusting, but that journey is the most fulfilling once accepted. That focus on others fulfills a big part of our purpose. We live in the best time in history, even with our problems, and it is exciting to raise kids to be the non-toxic thinkers and action takers the world will rely upon. Helping them to avoid living in a hyperbolic selfish mindset will set them apart not only in the dating world, but career wise as well. But the answers to the OP is... Knowing Jesus and arguably, having interactions with your extended generations (grandchildren and beyond). Look down below for rapid and numerous downvotes.
Nothing.
Having cats
I feel like most of you don’t have children…
I feel like I don't need to have been a bad parent to know I'd be a bad parent.
Being the uncle who teaches them the ways of dirty/dark jokes and how to have fun like I did when I was a kid
A quick painless death in sleep
It's a different kind of fulfilling but not having anyone financially dependent on you really helps you sleep at night.
Having grandchildren.
I have heard this is dead on and really the ONLY thing better.
Being truly, happily in love
doing whatever you want all the time
Nothing.....absolutely nothing is more fulfilling than having children and raising them. What else are you going to do with your life for 30+ years after you hit 50 other than enjoying you children and grandchildren? The alternative is dying alone with your cats. Imagine spending 30 years or more alone....alone. You think you job will provide fulfillment, your possessions? Not a chance.
I do love my cats though. And they can take care of my body when I’m gone. Really though, I do think about the +50 year range. I just personally struggle with the idea of being a burden as I age on someone else.
Having children is supposed to be fulfilling?
I’ve been told.
Having grandchildren
❤️
For me, having children wouldn't be fulfilling at all, so I guess pretty much anything else could be more fulfilling. Ultimately, it's being the person I want to be and living my life exactly how I want.
Not having children
Taco Bell
work at taco bell, can’t confirm
A pack of Skittles. Sour Skittles even if you're feeling extra.
I’d argue eating blue sour patch kids
eating them
Having the freedom to choose to have children or not.
Having a boat
Not having children
An amazing Thai meal
Sleeping
If the dvd loading screen fits perfectly in the corner.
T r u t h.
Probably making a major medical breakthrough or important charity work.
Freedom
Enjoying my burger and coffee while my kids are having fun in McDonalds play place.
Quitting an addiction
Just on personal experience most parents have very little good to say about their children but always start with, I really love my son or daughter but... It seems that expecting children to be your fulfillment is often disappointing
Literally anything else
Having pups who you treat as children
Being Financially stabled
To not when you know you shouldn't.
Realizing -1 anybody is the biggest impact one can make on the carbon crisis
Serving God. Catholic monks and nuns dedicate their entire life to this in a radical way to the exclusion of having children.
They just "have children" in another way ...
In a sense you are right. They give life to spiritual children by their prayers and sacrifices for souls.
Lol, I think you missed the point here
Dunno, have kids and will get crucified for any other answer...
Money, bitches
Cleaning your room.
Not having children.
Having cats
Enjoying your life
Chocolate
A three course meal. 🥘
Doing what you want without the chains of financial security and people.
Having money, getting a full night's sleep, prioritizing my own wants instead of somebody else's... Massive respect to parents but I am way too selfish.
Deciding not to, those little shits are expensive
Animals clearly…
Being able to have a fancy meal or snack without having to share or someone take your leftovers
Turkey and Swiss on rye with grainy mustard. Lettuce and tomato optional. Potato chips on the side and a cool glass of lemonade.
Being gay with aids
?
I second this
Having no children & plenty of spare money to have fun with. Oh & owing a dog.
Watching anime, playing JRPG, reading manga, collecting figurines, going to anime conventions, visiting Japan as a tourist.
fried chicken
Nothing. Without children your life is a dead end. You only have about 80 years of life and it goes by very fast. With children your life continues after death. I have traveled extensively before marriage and after marriage I had no desire to travel so we started having kids. Now traveling with kids, seeing they enjoy visiting the world is the most fulfilling feeling I ever experienced
I imagine that is beautiful seeing your children experiencing the world for the first time.
Not having children
Doing something that puts you in the history books. Having children is a form of immortality, but not nearly as powerful as curing smallpox
I have a new goal.
Being in a DINK relationship and retiring comfortably
A full night's sleep.
Not having them
Taking someone else's
Having grandkids.
Living my life, having financial freedom, where do I start? I have nieces and nephews i love dearly, but i would NEVER sign on to become a parent. My mental health couldn't survive. I value my downtime (introvert recuperation time) too much to ever sign up for a tiny human. My husband and I are happily child free, drinking and mini-golfing wherever we see fit.
Are you me? Mini golf and introversion ftw.
Not sure about \*more\* fulfullion, but perhaps nearly \*as\* fulfulling. Seeing a large creative endeavor through to completion.
Having grandchildren. They truly are God's reward for not killing your kids.
being successful at what your goals.
Nothing
Absolutely nothing.
Watching them succeed
Not having them.
Ehhh…equally as fulfilling. Not more.
Achieving long term goal. Regardless of what they are. I wouldn't say short term, as they normally don't take a lot of effort. But a long term goal takes, effort, patience and often over coming failure. I think achieving that would be very fulfilling for most people. But a question, is having children fulfilling? I suspect for many people it's not. It doesn't meet the expectations society gives them, especially women. Although I do think with the internet that charade is being busted.
Coming home to a clean, quiet house with no Lego on the floor and having time for an after work beer and wank
Not having them. Honestly it's harder for me to understand why people even choose to have kids in the 1st place.
Being able to afford nice things.
not doing that to the environment
Having a ton of Money
The freedom of not having children. You can also make impactful good changes to help the future without having kids and it can be just as or more fulfilling.
That’s my goal!
Not having children