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August 02, 2005
little taxi?
Last night Joe and I were lounging on the balcony with a glass of wine after dinner. We were listening to old Cure songs on "Pod" as we call it (Pod has a personality, you see, choosing the songs and artists it feels like we want to hear) and watching the squirrels get all squirrely in the trees. Somehow we started talking about having children.
ME: The only reason I want children is to have someone take care of me when I'm old. I know I say that a lot but more and more its true and it's selfish and awful.
JOE: It IS awful! Besides, that's what nurses are for.
ME: But really, who will take care of us when we're old? Look at the F____ (VERY elderly landlords who live below us). They have their children within a phone call if something happens. Who will we have?
JOE: You worry too much. But actually, having a child would mean a tax break.
ME: I suppose there is that.
JOE: We could call our child "Little Tax Break" or "Taxi" for short. And really, since it's a tax break, we won't have to worry so much about raising it like other people do. If our little Taxi gets into the cat box for example and starts playing around, we can say 'woohoo...don't have to worry about changing that diaper, now will we?'
It probably says a lot about both of us that a. Joe can crack jokes along lines like this (and god knows how his train of thought got him from the name Taxi to the catbox...) and b. that it made me laugh so hard.
And yeah yeah, don't give me the comments about how great kids are and they will change our life, etc. etc. We KNOW. But the thing is--we don't WANT our lives changed--at least not in that way. That's why we get to be the favorite aunts and uncles; because we love kids--we just don't want them to be ours.
Unless, that is, they'll take care of us when we're old--but there really isn't much of a guarantee there, now, is there?
Posted by crystallyn at August 2, 2005 07:28 AM
Comments
As a mommy, I think it's a lot of work and investment you have to put in to get them to take care of you when you get old. Kind of a dumb reason to have kids. Why not just have friends that are young to keep you young and to be at the end of the line for you? Not that a little Taxi wouldn't be adorable and much loved! Also, the tax break doesn't make up for the cost - doctor's bills alone, and mine have been relatively healthy.
Oh, and I told my mom (as she goes through the tough decisions for my grandparents) that I wouldn't be able to have her live with me when she gets old and senile. So there is NO guarantee.
Posted by: Niki at August 3, 2005 09:17 AM
You people are beyond shallow. The truth is you can't pass my PP test (parent profiling test). Other non- passers have been the entire Seinfeld gang and ANYONE in Hollywood. Enjoy your dark, bleak future ;).
Posted by: Mike at August 3, 2005 11:30 AM
bleak?
Hardly you silly git. No way we could have our whirlwind social life--sometimes I wonder if it is possible to have too many friends ;) --with children in the picture.
That said, I'm visiting my boss tomorrow...she had her twins a month ago and I can't wait to see them! I wish I lived closer to Niki so I could babysit!
Posted by: crystal at August 3, 2005 11:40 AM
do you still do morning pages?
Posted by: shanna at August 3, 2005 01:05 PM
This just reminds me of something my mother use to say "just because everyone else is jumping off the bridge doesn't mean you have to"
Posted by: Paulette at August 3, 2005 01:05 PM
Shanna, I wish I was!! They completely transformed my creativity levels--made me feel motivated, organized and focused. But in the end, I had to choose which I could manage in the morning--getting up early for morning pages or the gym. I opted for the gym. I couldn't imagine getting up any earlier at this point to do both!
But drop me a line if you want to talk about them...they are awesome awesome and I totally believe in them.
Posted by: Crystal at August 3, 2005 05:34 PM
Oh, and funny enough, the reason I managed to be motivated to go to the gym in the first place was because of the morning pages... :)
Posted by: Crystal at August 3, 2005 05:36 PM
LOL, what a name! Can you imagine having a kid named Taxi? I myself like the name and think you would make an awesome Mom :)
Are you both that scared of having kids because your lives will change? Is the responsibility more than you want in this lifetime? Don't you want to live life to the fullest and experience morning sickness, strange cravings, back pain, swelling of the ankles, stretch marks, shopping for maternity clothes, etc. etc.? ;)
I myself have been thinking about life and having kids. First, I have to find Mr. Right! I just wonder if there are other women like myself who are scared of having a kids. Is being scared giving in to selfishness? How do you know when to let go of yourself to experience parenthood?
Can I say, that biological clock is a kicker! :)
Posted by: Angela at August 4, 2005 04:14 PM
Personally, I would prefer it if we were able to have children into our 60's and lived to be 150. This would simplify matters. It's not that I don't WANT kids, period; it's that I don't want them...now. Or in 5 years. Or 10, even.
Unfortunately, the biological clock? She ticks uncaringly. :)
Perhaps I'll flip a coin.
Posted by: Redpanda at August 6, 2005 12:29 PM