Rising Anti-Child Movement...Parents BE AWARE

[The Duchess]

Parents, try to get ahold of a copy of THE BOSTON GLOBE MAGAZINE 2/22/2004 and check out the Cover Story...NO KIDS ALLOWED-THE RISING ANTI CHILD MOVEMENT.
Just the story you would expect from the liberal Boston Globe...
BUT VERY SCARY. These are just the type of fringe groups that comes out of nowhere and hits you broadside.
These people are hateful and vicious and would probably like to see your children raised in camps so as not to distrurb their idyllic lifestyles. Parents are termed "breeders."

 

[floridaminnie]

So these people never were kids with childhoods. They just came out as adults?!?!

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

We have a couple of them on the DIS.

 

[powellrj]

my oldest DS is 20 and my youngest is 7 and I can see how things have changes since they were born.

 

[Serena]

Originally posted by The Duchess
Parents, try to get ahold of a copy of THE BOSTON GLOBE MAGAZINE 2/22/2004 and check out the Cover Story...NO KIDS ALLOWED-THE RISING ANTI CHILD MOVEMENT.
Just the story you would expect from the liberal Boston Globe...
BUT VERY SCARY. These are just the type of fringe groups that comes out of nowhere and hits you broadside.
These people are hateful and vicious and would probably like to see your children raised in camps so as not to distrurb their idyllic lifestyles. Parents are termed "breeders."

They will just have to get over it.

 

[CEDmom]

I'll have to try to get a copy. What amazes me is that many of the "anti-child" people say "I did the kid thing now it's my time". What they seem to forget is that the rest of us had to nicely "put up" with their kids being at places when we didn't have kids ourselves. All most of us are asking for is the same courtesy. I don't pretend that my DD is always an angel and can do no wrong. However, she is for the most part a well behaved and polite child. When she isn't DH and I don't hestitate to remove her from the situation.

 

[momof2inPA]

I think some older people see kids and immediately think "broken hip." But most are kind. I have heard rumblings from people unhappy with their property taxes saying, "Why should I pay for school when my kids are grown and gone?" It is kind of sad for the kids to be faced with such hostility.

What did the article say? Kids should be banned from restaurants, airplanes, church on Sunday?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Here it is.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2004/02/22/no_kids_please/

 

[dizny4us]

I found the article online here..
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2004/02/22/no_kids_please/

to each his own i guess

 

[Kimberle]

Originally posted by momof2inPA
I think some older people see kids and immediately think "broken hip." But most are kind. I have heard rumblings from people unhappy with their property taxes saying, "Why should I pay for school when my kids are grown and gone?" It is kind of sad for the kids to be faced with such hostility.

Yeah, we've gotten the "property tax/school" thing alot around here, too. Many of the local towns have recently had tax increases. The local paper is full of letters to the editor from people with grown children "we don't use the schools any more, why should we have to pay...." Funny, I'm 41 and still have not "used" the public schools (my dd will start kindergarten next fall), and I never even thought to complain......

I've heard of this "movement" before. Guess it must be starting to get bigger....

No who do these people think will pay their social security in their old age? With no new children, all the doctors will be "old", all the business people will be "old", who's going to "run" the world?

I'm all for choice. If you don't want children, that's perfectly fine with me! I'll even agree there should be some "adult only" areas..... but to prevent others from enjoying the wonder of raising their own families, ghee whiz................

 

[CEDmom]

I'm reading the story now and I can't help but laugh at this:

"Schneider, 40, a four-year member of the Boston chapter of No Kidding. She's here tonight with her husband, though he's still in the closet and declines to give his name. As a teacher in Framingham, he fears his anti-kid sentiment might cost him his job."

Gee, how long will it take for someone in Framingham to figure out who this guy is since they also provide this bit of information:

"Lori Schneider is a former cop from Connecticut who's going back to school"

 

[RitaZ.]

CEDmom, LOL. I thought the same thing.

 

[helenabear]

I read that article and some are more out there than others. But I can relate to those pushing kidless couples to have kids and not knowing what to say when people talk about kids in general. It's not as easy as some think it is. So I can see why others might seek out other kidless couples so they can actually feel part of the crowd.

On the same token, I would never dream of complaining about my taxes where I live. I do realize that taxes can bring about a better school district and therefore have better value placed on my house. So even if I never have a kid (which may or may not happen), it's still a value to me.

Before I keep going, just realize that not all kidless couples are that out there. And I didn't necessarily think that these people really want NO kids... just wanted a more kidless friendly environment to live in. I can't blame them for that.

 

[grinningghost]

Helenabear said it very well. Those that complain about property taxes don't seem to realize that the better the school district, the better the community is in general. The kids are generally more well-behaved resulting in less juvenile delinquency and vandalism, etc.

My best friend is childless and plans to be that way forever. She is far from "anti-child". She may not want any children of her own, but is very loving and kind to other people's children. Not all childless people are child hating monsters. Obviously they're out there, but those of us with kids need to remember the monsters are getting the attention because they are extremists in the minority.

 

[solotraveler]

Hmmmm.....

I just finished reading the article and I didn't see anything terribly inflamatory about it. I didn't see where people were trying to ban children from public places or anything of that nature. Demographically there are more and more people choosing not to have children although capable of doing so and there are workplaces that give perks to parents that they ordinarily wouldn't give to single people or childless couples (although discribing it as "discriminatory" is pushing it, IMHO). I just think the article was stating those particular truths.

However, a couple of things struck me as odd.
1. Why did these people need a club?? I'm sure it's not too hard to find other childless people to hang out with.
2. The guy with the website they interviewed- he needs a new hobby, pronto!!

People with children vs. people who don't want children: Can't we all just get along!

Solotraveler

 

[pamlet]

The common thread with the ones of "child bearing age" is a total sense of self centeredness.. I think that's been brewing awhile.

I suppose to each his own - but I know it's been a constant struggle as we raise our children for them to undertand that they as individuals are NOT the center of the universe. It's a pretty obtuse concept ... laugh...

CEDmom - I was laughing at the same thing - and if he doesn't like kids - then why the heck teach school?

I can understand wanting a lifestyle where kids do not intrude. When my oldest (now close to 20) was young it was VERY common for apartment/condo complexes not to allow children. Then laws were passed that did not allow the exclusion of children - but we wouldn't have wanted to live there anyway if the majority of residents did not like kids.

There will always be a few die hards - but I suspect as the younger ones get older a number of them will have children.. and then they're the ones who will make DEMANDS for THEIR children. (Back the them being the center of the universe... laugh)

 

[arminnie]

Well I for one hope the people who really dislike children never have them. I can't imagine what kind of parents they would make. Wouldn't wish that on any child.

I had an economics course in college many years ago and one thing that I learned was that how important it is to provide an education for our youth. As has been stated earlier it's the kids of today who will be our doctors, teachers, etc in later years.

There is a correlation between future prison population and the reading ability of third grade boys. I am participating in a wonderful program called Touch Tone to Reading which pairs reading tutors with 3rd graders. The tutor and the child each have the same books and reading is all done by phone. It's 30 minute a week from your home or can even be done by cell phone if away from home.

I was not fortunate enough to have children but am grateful to my dear friends who "shared" their children with me.

 

[MAC3]

Too bad their parents didn't feel this way.

Talk about "All about me!!!"

Edited to add, I know people who have admitted to not wanting children and that's honorable to admit it. Hey whatever floats your boat. But a support group because you don't like children. Yikes!

I wouldn't want to see people that don't want children have them.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

I had an economics course in college many years ago and one thing that I learned was that how important it is to provide an education for our youth. As has been stated earlier it's the kids of today who will be our doctors, teachers, etc in later years.

I heartily agree. I believe it IS our duty, ALL of us, to educate our youth.

 

[helenabear]

I'll throw out my two cents again and then hopefully will find the strength to shut up

The choice to have kids or not, isn't always an easy one. We all have to admit that we look at some people and think that they are not "fit" to be parents (whether they really are or not). I know some who do not have kids and their choice was a long thought out decision keeping in mind the best interest of any possible children. Some of these people are the most giving and loving people in the world. Some even love to work with kids because they like kids, but just do not feel they can do it on their own. I am sure some would even be wonderful parents but are too scared to take that step. And yes, some I know are simply afriad of being a failure of a parent.

Just remember, childless not not equate to a hatred of children...

Maybe I am touchy because I am 27, do not have kids yet (not discounted yet either) but I do feel pressure to have them whether we are ready for it or not. It's not as easy as you would think to have co-workers/friends/family bug you left and right about something you can't be sure will/can happen.