Hated on Halloween

And guessing we'll be even more hated this year. We will not be dressing up in costume. Or handing out candy. Our light will not be on, inviting young children whose parents spent some of the $300,000 cost of raising their child on this special costume to ring our doorbell, harass our dogs, and say "trick-or-treat" even though they don't really want a "trick".

I am sorry that I will not be adding to the nearly 7,000 empty calories your child will collect tonight. I have something more important to do.

We will not be spending the average Halloween at home because we will be visiting my dad at the hospital. But we will not escape the single, childless, grumpy couple stereotype of which the people of our neighborhood has tagged us after a few "don't build snow forts in my yard" and "don't scream at my dog" incidents. I do not care. Halloween will go on even if we don't participate. I can feel the glares of the neighbors as I type...

Halloween--Reason 926 not to have children

Dogs vs. Kids

Let's talk about dogs vs. kids.

This weekend while running the Des Moines half marathon (awesome race, by the way. I highly recommend it), I said to my sister, "Oh, what a cutie!" But I wasn't directing that at any of the hundreds of kids in strollers there to cheer on their parents. It was for the little yellow lab puppy. Adorable.  If the dog is what caught my eye before the cuteness of a child, I am obviously not meant to procreate.

Dogs love you unconditionally.
You can leave them home alone without babysitters.
 They don't tell you they hate you or do drugs.
 They do not end up costing $250,000+ in my lifetime.

Dogs are awesome. And now there is a puppy of the day gadget on my blog.

The End.

Let Me Explain...

I choose not to have kids. WE choose not to have kids. We are married. We are young. We are able. Yes, we are even both teachers. We choose not to make babies.

I constantly have to defend the decision my husband and I made together not to have children. It gets exhausting. And I cannot tell you how many times the conversation ends with the other party stating "you'll change your minds." No, no we won't.

But let me explain that its not that I don't like children. That's not it at all. I love my niece and nephews as I would my own. I love my friend Tracey's kids, getting updates and pictures. I like kids. Really, I do.

Isn't it funny the expectations we have of people to reproduce? And in a timely manner, at that! I have been asked on a weekly (or more) basis by some random family member, friend, co-worker, hairdresser, etc. "So when are you starting a family?" since my wedding reception.

What if we were free from expectations? We, the most hated, non-baby having couple are freeing ourselves from the expectation that we must reproduce.

1. Yes, I'm 100% sure we'd be great parents.
2. Yes, I KNOW we would have beautiful children.
3. I know for a fact we would create one athleticly gifted child.
4. No, I'm not quite sure who will take care of me when I'm old but what a morbid reason to have a babe in the first place.
5. No, I won't be bored in my life. I rather enjoy my hobbies, my ability to travel on a whim, my lack of planning. I even like my husband and spending time just the two of us.

SO. Here is where I plan to explain my reasoning. Love it or hate it. Not birthing a kid. Final answer.