tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219744375035016837.post3548646254421716287..comments2023-06-09T11:43:56.173-04:00Comments on What I Think: Because I Have So Much Free TimeGottabeMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06157022668927522040noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219744375035016837.post-46108447580112639472007-12-02T19:48:00.000-05:002007-12-02T19:48:00.000-05:00Like Shannon said, I've gotten some attitude befor...Like Shannon said, I've gotten some attitude before, especially on years when my husband and I don't travel for the holidays. Look -- just because we don't have kids doesn't mean that we don't have our own holiday traditions. It also doesn't mean that we want to spend every holiday every year sleeping away from home. One year in three we don't go anywhere for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and this is that year for us. I tell you, Thanksgiving was SO RELAXED since we didn't have to obey anyone's schedule but ours...Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12415155948577364954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219744375035016837.post-63472109330933860532007-11-30T20:24:00.000-05:002007-11-30T20:24:00.000-05:00Just like m said, of course you can work overtime,...Just like m said, of course you can work overtime, you don't have kids!<BR/><BR/>But I don't know where this idea that we have more time came from. I go home and am busy from the time I get home from work until I go to bed. Not to mention that the nights I teach I am on campus an extra three hours. <BR/><BR/>Also, because I am the grandchild who doesn't have kids of their own, guess who gets to take grandma grocery shopping and to her doctor appointments?<BR/><BR/>Seriously, after teaching and grandma duty, I almost think I would rather have a kid for all the extra time it would give me!!<BR/><BR/>Gak, strike that. Sorry, lost my mind for a minute ;)Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04873478695914665795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219744375035016837.post-29133714418233479822007-11-30T15:33:00.000-05:002007-11-30T15:33:00.000-05:00Just today someone actually asked me,"So what do y...Just today someone actually asked me,"So what do you "dinks" do for Christmas since you don't have any kids?"<BR/>Excuse me? Like we couldn't possibly know what to do about Christmas, or we are somehow excluded from the holiday because we haven't bred?Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10665357769102268827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219744375035016837.post-36863539746327700372007-11-30T13:52:00.000-05:002007-11-30T13:52:00.000-05:00I accidentally pressed published before I finished...I accidentally pressed published before I finished. Just wanted to say, I hope we (childfree) can help bring more awareness to others, without turning it into a nasty battle, and help educate others that, yes, childfree people have responsibilities and struggles as well. <BR/><BR/>I don't care as much about this on an individuals level, in that people have a right to their own personal views and beliefs (of course it's better to clear up misconceptions than not). <BR/><BR/>But, I do care very much about these issues in terms of workplace and official societal expectations and regulations. I'm not talking about something like paying taxes for schools, but things like the childfree being asked to work late so parents can repeatedly leave early. <BR/><BR/>Besides, the truth is even if we childfree didn't have equally urgent and important responsibilities--though we do--we shouldn't ever be "punished" for that. We give up the benefits of parenthood and thus deserve to enjoy the advantages of being childfree as well. <BR/><BR/>Parents make the choice to be parents, and I don't believe we should have to pay for their choice, for example, by being treated unfairly at work and being forced/encouraged to pick up their slack by working overtime because they are busy leaving early or coming in late every day to care for their kids. <BR/><BR/>As you noted, we have lives, loved ones, and responsibilities that are just as important and urgent as parents' responsibilities-- including kids--are to them. <BR/><BR/>Too often at work (and perhaps elsewhere too) "family friendly" means "childfree unfriendly" and that is not right. I'm all for helping parents and especially kids, but not at the expense of the childfree.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14019009149011549894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219744375035016837.post-21719122717044057492007-11-30T13:36:00.000-05:002007-11-30T13:36:00.000-05:00I agree that many do seem to make this assumption,...I agree that many do seem to make this assumption, including at the workplace (i.e. you don't have kids, therefor you have no urgent and important needs/responsibilities, so you can stay late, finish so and so's work, etc.)<BR/><BR/>I also agree that this assumption is largely false. <BR/><BR/>There definitely are some childfree people however who do represent their lives as very carefree, blissful, and full of adventure and frolicking, wealth, comfort, and ease. <BR/><BR/>I don't think they should have to be dishonest or silent about their lives, but I do believe that type of representation does help fuel those stereotypes onto the rest of us.<BR/><BR/>Not all childfree are constantly (or at all) traveling, going out all the time, and living large. Many of us struggle, most of us probably, just the same as anyone else, with all the same issues everyone else struggles with, just as you noted.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14019009149011549894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3219744375035016837.post-10836970472770752172007-11-30T11:01:00.000-05:002007-11-30T11:01:00.000-05:00Yeah, exactly. And to even suggest that our doing...Yeah, exactly. And to even suggest that our doing laundry and dishes and housecleaning gets us nothing more than a "well I have it much worse than you because I have kids"... well, you popped the kid out by your choice, so shut the F up. <BR/><BR/>Oh, excuse me while I go throw some more of my copious money into the fire and sit back and drink a martini.InnerKeeninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04520182314362814546noreply@blogger.com