General Discussion

LisaLynne

(14,554 posts)

16. I just read an article ...

Tue Dec 17, 2013, 10:58 AM

Dec 2013

may have been on "Cracked" that was something like the top 10 overrated life decisions and basically, if you read it, it was that there are pros and cons to all of the things we supposedly "have" to have done or have in life. It's just that people don't want to talk about a lot of the cons, such as marriage or having kids, because heck, once you've done it, there's no going back, ha ha. But yeah, I think I've gotten caught up many times in the "oh poor me I don't have kids or a family of my own" when really there's no way to tell that I would honestly be happier if I did, you know? I kind of have this picture of me being like all those Victorian authors who wrote about women going crazy under the restraints and pressures of a family.

So ... I don't know, your post just made me think about that. There are always pros and cons to everything. And happiness is so often about attitude.

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A nice thing about not having a family during Christmas, I don't have to spend any of [View all] RB TexLa Dec 2013 OP

Tell me about it! KansDem Dec 2013 #1

I have family and I don't spend a dime on them. Luminous Animal Dec 2013 #2

I wish I had someone to buy gifts for. The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2013 #3

you can buy gifts for poor families, especially those with kids JI7 Dec 2013 #4

I usually do the Toys for Tots thing - but it would be nice The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2013 #23

We're your family, TVO! What's for Christmas dinner and what time? ... Oh, and I want socks! n/t ChisolmTrailDem Dec 2013 #29

I suspect it was more of a lament than a brag FrodosPet Dec 2013 #50

Hey!!! I love my family and I love getting them presents. nt msanthrope Dec 2013 #67

Depends on what a family is like. Archae Dec 2013 #70

I'm touched by your post. cilla4progress Dec 2013 #5

Orphans would love you. Phlem Dec 2013 #6

I'm the same firsttimer Dec 2013 #13

You are very generous and you sound like a really nice person, but please... PearliePoo2 Dec 2013 #30

You may have almost no family, but I'm sure that you have dear friends. Beacool Dec 2013 #18

We buy gifts for our older veterans. They have requests written down and we will a kennedy Dec 2013 #19

I'm here for your gift giving needs! FSogol Dec 2013 #31

I have no family left... abakan Dec 2013 #81

I get gifts for people in my family. Captain Stern Dec 2013 #7

I'd rather still have my family, thanks. Warpy Dec 2013 #8

A nice thing about losing both my parents Control-Z Dec 2013 #9

Great post malaise Dec 2013 #10

Thanks, malaise. Control-Z Dec 2013 #48

Back at you malaise Dec 2013 #51

I went through every one of those things with my aging parents. PearliePoo2 Dec 2013 #35

My heart breaks to imagine Control-Z Dec 2013 #99

this brings to miind the following lines grasswire Dec 2013 #101

. Jesus Malverde Dec 2013 #62

Thank you, Jesus Malverde! Control-Z Dec 2013 #100

Same here..... llmart Dec 2013 #95

What happened to your wife? pintobean Dec 2013 #11

She isn't my wife anymore. Nothing happened to her RB TexLa Dec 2013 #12

I only have a brother left PasadenaTrudy Dec 2013 #14

Same here! Holly_Hobby Dec 2013 #15

I just read an article ... LisaLynne Dec 2013 #16

I'd like to read that article. nt grasswire Dec 2013 #102

We buy for the little ones Skidmore Dec 2013 #17

Don't you have any friends? Beacool Dec 2013 #20

I hate to say it...you are Scrooge nadinbrzezinski Dec 2013 #21

+1 pinboy3niner Dec 2013 #22

It's possible to be a generous and sharing person outside the boundaries of Christmas giving. Gidney N Cloyd Dec 2013 #40

Check posting history nadinbrzezinski Dec 2013 #41

I have a sister, Spirochete Dec 2013 #24

Yeah it's great. el_bryanto Dec 2013 #25

It is way better to give than to receive ... MindMover Dec 2013 #26

I have a family, Jamaal510 Dec 2013 #27

Bah humbug B2G Dec 2013 #28

I like buying, and making, Christmas presents. Shrike47 Dec 2013 #32

I feel sorry for you. n/t FSogol Dec 2013 #33

No kidding. a la izquierda Dec 2013 #49

That is nice! Iggo Dec 2013 #34

You never fail to entertain. cherokeeprogressive Dec 2013 #36

I've got family and I don't spend a dime at this point. cbayer Dec 2013 #37

My son always laughs at our anniversary present to them.. 2 goats & 8 chickens SoCalDem Dec 2013 #42

I love that as a gift. cbayer Dec 2013 #43

ugh. SammyWinstonJack Dec 2013 #38

I don't "have" to either.. SomethingFishy Dec 2013 #39

I imagine that if you did have a family, they'd feel the same way about you. LanternWaste Dec 2013 #44

I don't spend either. I give year round. roody Dec 2013 #45

Hug your money at Christmastime DisgustipatedinCA Dec 2013 #46

I think many of you misunderstood. This is a happy post! RB TexLa Dec 2013 #47

That's where you are wrong. 99Forever Dec 2013 #55

That is truly awesome, I am so happy for them. Ikonoklast Dec 2013 #52

Your wife finally came to her senses. Starry Messenger Dec 2013 #53

But, he was so much fun at parties. pintobean Dec 2013 #54

Holy shit--I just read through a few of those threads. Orrex Dec 2013 #73

Wow, I think you win the prize for best attempt at internet bullying on this one RB TexLa Dec 2013 #58

Oh please dude. tkmorris Dec 2013 #59

It was a happy post. People here don't seem to like when others are happy RB TexLa Dec 2013 #60

Happy? No problem. Smarmy and patronizing? Problem. Orrex Dec 2013 #65

It wasn't either of the latter. RB TexLa Dec 2013 #71

As I noted... Orrex Dec 2013 #72

That's what other people made up. Many so they can act as tough internet bullys and insult a RB TexLa Dec 2013 #74

Oh, please. Orrex Dec 2013 #75

After 10 years, you're not a stranger pintobean Dec 2013 #76

I know none of you people. I posted something happy and joyfull and then out came the insults. I RB TexLa Dec 2013 #78

But, we know you pintobean Dec 2013 #80

It's not flamebait. It's an honest expression of happiness RB TexLa Dec 2013 #83

Let's just agree pintobean Dec 2013 #85

Actually, I would say you were the one with cruel intent Oilwellian Dec 2013 #63

I'm very sorry for your loss. But my post had no cruel intentions, it was joyful and happy. RB TexLa Dec 2013 #64

That you have so little self-reflection laundry_queen Dec 2013 #86

I've lost loved ones as well. That's part of the reason I don't have a family. RB TexLa Dec 2013 #87

And you see that as 'nice'?? nt laundry_queen Dec 2013 #89

I see it as nice that I do not have to give my money to people for gifts and that I don't RB TexLa Dec 2013 #90

Not usually at the expense of having family. wth. nt laundry_queen Dec 2013 #91

It wasn't at their expense. They just died that's what happens to people older than you. RB TexLa Dec 2013 #92

Still, most people would rather have their family laundry_queen Dec 2013 #93

No, I wouldn't rather have that. But that is what happens over time. I don't see acceptance of RB TexLa Dec 2013 #94

I don't give out of duty. I give because I want too. nt DeadEyeDyck Dec 2013 #56

PLUS, you have that box buried in your backyard to keep you warm in your later years DrDan Dec 2013 #57

My Family really doesn't Celebrate Kurisumasu yuiyoshida Dec 2013 #61

How about Toys Fot Tots or other charities, even if small amounts? RBInMaine Dec 2013 #66

I thought you had a wife with whose coworkers you do not drink. nt Codeine Dec 2013 #68

Oops. Missed that part of the thread. Codeine Dec 2013 #69

This message was self-deleted by its author elocs Dec 2013 #77

I'm the same way! kevinbgoode1 Dec 2013 #82

So then you won the War on Christmas! Rex Dec 2013 #79

I'll celebrate Christmas, I'll got to midnight mass on Christmas eve and probably not go into RB TexLa Dec 2013 #88

why go to Mass? CreekDog Dec 2013 #96

I haven't said I only care about myself. You had to make that up, didn't come from me. RB TexLa Dec 2013 #98

No homeless children, abused women, elderly persons without family... mentalsolstice Dec 2013 #84

I just finished wrapping a bunch of those. MineralMan Dec 2013 #97