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Comment by falcolas | Hacker News Reader

I get that with nieces and nephews. And the crying. And the diaper changing. And the sullen teen angst. And pretty much every other experience.

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Babies cry, that is how they communicate. Yes you have to change diapers, it's not that hard. Waking up at night every 2 to 3 hours because the baby wants to eat. Yes teens are teens and?

Pretty much life as it always was... Sounds to more like people are stuck in a comfort zone Or in a TV world of the 80s/90s with sitcoms like full house.

You’re mistaking my covering of the entire baby experience (sans childbirth) as disliking those things. They’re just baby things.

My point is, I can get the full experience (namely the called out smiling) without them being mine.

Okay sorry got the wrong.

I can tell you from experience, it is different if it is your own child.

And yet, I don’t feel any lack. I have two nieces who call me “Dad” because their own don’t love them. I have helped three nieces and nephews reach adulthood. I have another nephew who was just born and giggles at my voice.

And, as much as I don’t have the experience to say how my life would be different with a child, you appear to lack the experience to know how your life would be different without a child.

I have over 25 years of childless adult life, an experience many of my parent acquaintances don’t - can’t - have. It’s been a fulfilling life.

If they call you dad, and you helped raise them, you are a father. Adopting kids isn't being childless.

I didn’t adopt them, they still lived with their single mother.

That said, I appreciate the sentiment. Thank you. :)

It sounds to me like you should have gotten a puppy instead. Cheaper, cuter and can learn not to shit everywhere in 14 days or so.

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