June 21, 2007 Columns » IQ

Every week, the Independent takes to the streets, in search of your opinion on the issues of the day.

The family romance In the 1950s and 

by

Tools

The family romance

In the 1950s and early '60s, TV shows like Ozzie & Harriet, Leave it to Beaver and My Three Sons pretended to depict "the norm" of parenting and family life. Contemporary reality more likely entails a single parent, divorce or both parents working mega-hour jobs. Bob Campbell

click to enlarge Ramon Plair Motor City area Cashier/ - stocker Why do you have kids? - Because when I was young, I had unprotected sex with - my girlfriend. - - What's best about having kids? Watching them - grow up, teaching them right from wrong, seeing them - want to be like you. - - Do you wish you'd done something differently when - you were younger? I wish I'd been more - responsible. I wish I'd focused more on budgeting my - money right. I wish I'd paid more attention to grownups. - - Do you raise your kids differently than your parents - raised you? I'm not as strict. They get away with - more, and they're a little more spoiled. I went without a - lot as a kid, so I want to give them more.
  • Ramon Plair
    Motor City area
    Cashier/ stocker
    Why do you have kids? Because when I was young, I had unprotected sex with my girlfriend.

    What's best about having kids? Watching them grow up, teaching them right from wrong, seeing them want to be like you.

    Do you wish you'd done something differently when you were younger? I wish I'd been more responsible. I wish I'd focused more on budgeting my money right. I wish I'd paid more attention to grownups.

    Do you raise your kids differently than your parents raised you? I'm not as strict. They get away with more, and they're a little more spoiled. I went without a lot as a kid, so I want to give them more.

click to enlarge Dan Zemler Stratmoor Hills Remodeling - contractor Why don't you have kids? - When I got married the first time at 25, my wife - already had two children, so we didn't have more. My - present wife has a 26-year-old daughter, and it's a little - late in life to have more now. - - What's good about not having kids? We like to - travel, and we don't have to worry about school and - vacations. Our money doesn't have to go to providing - college educations. - - How has parenting changed from when you were a - kid? It's way more lax. These days, - there's too much of the kids running the family instead - of the parents. - - Is it possible to have a family and a serious career? - Having a family would make you pursue a career - even more because of the financial responsibility and - things you want to provide.
  • Dan Zemler
    Stratmoor Hills
    Remodeling contractor

    Why don't you have kids? When I got married the first time at 25, my wife already had two children, so we didn't have more. My present wife has a 26-year-old daughter, and it's a little late in life to have more now.

    What's good about not having kids? We like to travel, and we don't have to worry about school and vacations. Our money doesn't have to go to providing college educations.

    How has parenting changed from when you were a kid? It's way more lax. These days, there's too much of the kids running the family instead of the parents.

    Is it possible to have a family and a serious career? Having a family would make you pursue a career even more because of the financial responsibility and things you want to provide.

click to enlarge Emilie Bozarth Downtown Massage - therapist Why don't you have kids? I - haven't found the right guy. - - What would be best about having kids? Having - a purpose, spending time with them, coming home to - someone who is your heart and love. - - Will your child-rearing differ from your parents'? - I'll be there for them a lot more, both physically - and mentally. I won't make my work more important - than them. - - How would your life be different with kids? It'd - be more hectic and fulfilling. - - Has parenting changed from when you were a kid? - Parents nowadays babysit their kids with TV - instead of taking them outside to play. The kids play - video games instead of climb a tree. Parents feed them - easy-to-fix, crappy food instead of planned-out healthy - meals. - - Is it possible to have a genuine career and still be a - good parent? Absolutely, if you have a significant - other to help. -
  • Emilie Bozarth
    Downtown
    Massage therapist

    Why don't you have kids? I haven't found the right guy.

    What would be best about having kids? Having a purpose, spending time with them, coming home to someone who is your heart and love.

    Will your child-rearing differ from your parents'? I'll be there for them a lot more, both physically and mentally. I won't make my work more important than them.

    How would your life be different with kids? It'd be more hectic and fulfilling.

    Has parenting changed from when you were a kid? Parents nowadays babysit their kids with TV instead of taking them outside to play. The kids play video games instead of climb a tree. Parents feed them easy-to-fix, crappy food instead of planned-out healthy meals.

    Is it possible to have a genuine career and still be a good parent? Absolutely, if you have a significant other to help.

IQ archives »

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this thread:
By Email
With RSS

Add a comment

Latest in IQ

  • IQ: Tuck in, take out

    What happens when our dining experiences go pear-shaped?
    • by Claire Jencks
    • Feb 3, 2011

  • IQ: Filling the lifeboats

    For years, our economy rode the crest of inflated home prices in a booming market. When the bubble popped, many were left thrashing in the deep end.
    • by Bob Campbell
    • Jan 27, 2011
  • More »

Popular Events

More by Bob Campbell

Most Commented On

Top Viewed Stories

COLORADO SPRINGS INDEPENDENT: Home | Jobs @ the Indy | Privacy Policy | Advertising | | Find a Newstand | Comment Policy | Contact Us | RSS

All content © Copyright 2013, The Colorado Springs Independent   |   Website powered by Foundation