me_irl

I have a sick (but not dying) sister with 3 kids. As far as work are concerned, I visit every fortnight to help out and rush up to see them every time there's an emergency or they need childcare.

I haven't seen the sister in four years and only see my nephews twice a year when they visit Grandma but work don't need to know that

just lie and tell them you have a kid

double down, even, and tell them the kid has a debilitating chronic disease that you regularly need to take time off work to bring to appointments and provide support for.

now you have even more free time

Do you not have a contract on how many hours you sell to your job each week?

Protip: you don't owe your employer an explanation for turning down overtime, for refusing to do unpaid work, for refusing to pick up extra shifts, or for not being able to participate in heroics or death marches.

Look at this guy, with his penis, assuming everyone has a penis as well. /s

Conservatives in the US are working very hard at forcing women to have children, especially when they can't afford them.

Children are an STD.

source: I was an STD.

I don't even need that. I don't gamble. One of my friend's dad had a vasectomy. It didn't spare him living.

to each their own

This is kinda my message to OP et al. You do you, you don't have to try to shame people who choose something else.

Admittedly, there's a "having kids" version of CompHet, like, people sometimes have kids because they feel like they have to, like they're supposed to, not because they want to, and that's dumb. But those people aren't addressed by the message of the OP, nor are they provided insight into the reality of OP's wisdom: you don't have to if you don't want to.

And some parents are fucking annoying. They think they're more important than everyone else (even their own kids) because they chose to take on more responsibility. No DINK should ever have to give up their spot in line, or work longer hours, because of your smug self-righteousness. But -- again -- these people aren't addressed by OP. (And, importantly, not all parents are like that.)

I have kids and I love having kids. I have no qualms with anyone who doesn't have kids. I sometimes have qualms with people who do have kids. Fight the real enemy.

We're in our 40's. Wanted kids but couldn't have them. It was hard, and sometimes still is, but we're the cool aunt/uncle and we're making the best of the extra freedom and money we have.

it gets a bit unsettling and empty when you get into your 40s.

that's a mid life crisis. I'm glad having a kid helped you through it. Also a better option than running away with a hooker, maybe.

Life with a kid has been anything but shitty but ymmv

Says who? You can afford to get yourself a nice lego set every holiday, you ain't got no crotch fruit taking all your moneys