MTG Salvation

Well, I've been following this thread and want to put my two cents in.

I agree with everyone who says that if you have to be conned into having a child, don't have one. If you're not ready and do not want one, do not have one. Don't let anyone "convince" you to have one, as it will only lead to issues further down the line.

OP, no one is going to be able to convince you. There's no reason to. Your arguments are all quite valid to yourself, and that's all that matters. Only if you, and only you, can say to yourself, "I think the benefits of this situation outweigh the costs I've outlined," will you ever feel right about having kids. You shouldn't have to feel like you should have one, even if your wife does. I say this from firsthand experience.

Quote from Tormod

Just curious.

Any parents out there that regret being parents?

Let's keep that honesty thing going. For quite a long time, I did. I made the mistake of conceding to my wife that it was the right time to have a child. I didn't feel quite ready yet and told myself that I would be ready in the interceding 9 months. I was scared of being a father, having helped out exceedingly with my sister who is 12 years younger than myself. I hated the experience. I really quite hated kids as it was and didn't want one.

However, I knew my wife wanted a child. She felt ready and that it was the right time. I knew it would be a thorn in my side, so I acquiesced, hoping my feelings would get better. They never did. I hated all the time my wife was pregnant (a nasty side effect of having kids) and didn't really enjoy the birthing. It was stressful and awful. I felt a little happier with my child in my arms though.

Through some awful economic-based issues, I ended up being a stay-at-home father. I had to raise my son, not my wife like we had discussed. I hated it. I hated him. I couldn't stand him. I took care of him, but more like someone at a daycare would. He was fed, clothed, changed, entertained, but I did it out of duty, not out of love and caring. He was never abused, but I'm sure I could've been a more caring parent.

I completely and utterly regretted my decision to have a kid. I came very close to leaving him and my wife behind. I hated myself for letting her con me into having the child. I didn't want him and now I was taking care of him full time? Regrets. Always regrets.

But he slowly got older and became a little more self-sufficient. I could communicate with him and soon came to enjoy watching him learn and grow. He started spending some time at daycare, giving me the ability to have a break from him. Now, honestly, I'm glad I had him, because I enjoy many of the other feelings the other parents posting in this thread do. But, to be very honest, it took two or three years before I stopped regretting my decision to have him. Now, he's generally a source of pride and joy, but not all the time. And sometimes, during those times he's being a little ****, I still have those times where I wish it was just me and my wife.

TL;DR: I agreed to have a kid when I wasn't ready. I regretted that decision for a long time. I now enjoy my kid, but it just about cost me my relationship with my wife.

Death in the family and a drunk driver swiped one of my cars. I'm stuck in Nashville for work training while my wife goes to her hometown to plan for the funeral. :/

@Syphon: You aren't related to Emmanuel de Witt by chance, are you? I went to a gallery with some of his paintings today.

@DGM: I'm excited. It's a Johnny set.

I like the financing one.

@Kank: As for work, I'm a Paratransit Administrator/Mobility Manager for the local bus company. I grant civil rights for individuals with disabilities who cannot ride a regular Fixed Route (reguar bus service) bus. We provide Paratransit Service by law as a safety net for these riders who need origin-to-destination service (pick-up at home and drop-off at location). The mobility management is basically helping solve transportation issues and work to enhance community mobility for all.

I got kidnapped by the legion of very busy job. It's been crazy. Lots of work, lots of training, lots of new income.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I guess, so I don't get spam infracted. Uh....Hi guys. Work's slowed down a bit. I might pop in every now and again.

@Abby: I understand that dropped into the deep water....Last week I started my new job. On Monday, I organized my office. On Tuesday, I went face-to-face as an administrator at a public hearing talking and answering questions about everything I had not learned yet. This week, I'm doing presentations in front of several groups. My official training is on the 23-25th of this month. However, I get to Ft. Lauderdale for that, so I'm not too angry.

@Sickness: People should stop posting in here when they get sick. I somehow manage to catch it through the internet. I feel like Tron. Extremely sick to my stomach, but Tron nonetheless.

@Clan Contest: I'll check it tomorrow.

@Pat: Yum. Crabshark cakes.

@Abby: Yuck. That sounds like painful break.

@Glaring Spotlight: It feels really cheap, but it is _very_ narrow a use. I could've seen it possible as a 3 mana uncommon. Hexproof just isn't that played outside of Traft and...well, I can't really think of anything else. The other ability just seems stupidly tacked on.

@Elfstedentocht: That sounds awesome. I'd really love to watch that.

@Snow: It has snowed nearly every day for the last week. Except for Saturday, where our high for the day was -17.2 C (1 F for the US Folk). With windchill, it was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay colder.

@Crabshark: Do you think there is a Great White Crabshark? Or King Crabshark? Can you get King Crabshark legs? Do you eat it with cocktail or Tartar (:grumpy:) sauce?

@Abby: Get better on being not sick!

@Thespian's Stage: Ah, the stage of Sapphic Love........Lesbian's Stage. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. It might eventually get old. It's a hella awesome card. I'm excited about it.

@More Magic Stuff: This Friday is the last FNM I'll be running.

Somehow, somewhere, miles and miles away from a computer with internet, deep in the Idaho woods while I ride upon my trusty steed, bearded and frosted, out being a lumiberjack (and that's okay), I heard those words ring out among the clear and cold forest, above the sound of the eagles.....SEX......and I knew I was needed on the internet.

HEY! What's up guys? I survived my first week at work. This is great, because I'm already clocking in more hours than they expected, plus overtime. I'm wondering how long it'll go before I'm moved over to salary.

@Gatecrash: Boros REPRESENT! My favorite guild is looking DAZZLING for its second time out in Magic. I have to disagree with you, though, PG. I'm actually kinda underwhelmed by the Boros Charm. I just keep looking at what Lightning Helix brought to the table in Ravnica 1.0 and wish. I like the combat-trick part of it, but 4 damage for 2 is pretty underwhelming, honestly. However, Aurelia's Fury is like Campbell's Soup! Mmm...Mmm...Good!

@Vliger: Oh! That's sad. I had to wear a walking boot for nearly 12 weeks after foot surgery. I had a bone removed. It was awful, especially since it was the middle of winter like now. :/ Good luck! Since it was the fiance's fault, you should make him help you around!

@Lasersharp: Surprisingly, there's a good chance I'd know some of those classical pieces. I _do_ have season tickets to the symphony here in town. I love it. However, for some reason, I can't stand the Sporcle quiz format. I just don't like it. :/

@Everyone: Hi guys!

@Stardust: Awesome Bolas.

@Gratecrash: I pretty well like most of the mechanics. I think extort is _quite_ powerful in limited. Adding a two point life swing for a single mana onto each spell is amazing. It's like having burn spells. Lovely. Cipher....Cipher has that lovely disadvantage of actually having to connect to the player. It's possible that you won't ever connect with those encoded creatures and the cipher spells are generally overcosted. B/W was ridiculously powerful in the original Ravnica. The small, singular life-draining will be devastating in limited. So good.

Quote from Vaclav

(And sidenote: Don't Mormons frown on psychiatric treatment? If so she might br dealing with everything untreated... a terrible cross to bear without...)

@ Vaclav: Just felt I needed to jump in here....Mormons are just fine with psychiatric treatment. In fact, the church has a very extensive social services network that is willing to help, including psychiatric and counseling services (given the network has a branch in an area where you're at). So, no, no problem at all. EXP: Have used said system in the past for family counseling.

@OP: Yeah, coming from someone who had a mother who experienced very similar things (talking with spirits, early childhood rape), there's definitely some mental health issues going on. If you truly love someone, they can be worked through and have a healthy relationship. However, it sounds like there was some emotional abuse involved in the entire thing, and you might be much better out of the relationship. It took me 24 long years to get out of the abusive one with my mother.

Also, as someone who couldn't serve a mission because of health issues, I can relate to your reluctance to tell people about your medical condition. Not serving a mission in a _HUGE_ stigma in Mormon culture, which makes revealing the medical condition even harder. I've noticed in my time dating that the women would almost always push to find out what it was that kept me from serving.

It's embarrassing and hard to deal with, but you're probably not going to find a woman willing to ignore it that shares your religion. They _will_ ask when they date you. Like everyone else has mentioned, it would be best to come to grips with your condition and how it will affect your relationships. It is nothing you have done wrong (especially not being able to serve, don't let other people get you down because of it) and I pray that you have the peace and serenity to accept this sooner than later. I also hope that you have further luck in finding someone you _are_ compatible with that shares your religion.

@Watching things: I saw Wreck-It Ralph on Tuesday night. We finally managed to hook up with the friends we were planning on seeing it with (after weeks of unexpected bills, sickness, and holidays.). For all you old-school gamers out there, there's plenty of laughs and plenty of little references that will make you cheer. It's a fairly straight-forward movie, but it's a lot of fun.

@DQ: Have you thought about going the route of Cavern Harpy and Aluren to get infinite spell count? Then you just cast whatever victory route you want, or Burning Wish for Empty the Warrens or Tendrils of Agony for killing. It's a little more consistent...

@Clan Contests: Scavenger Hunts are fun. They were pretty cool to do. Googly eyed cards would be silly. We could really do an un-themed year. Maybe an un-themed card for each clan?

@Syphon's EDH: Yeah, definitely up the land count. Are you looking for budget options or expensive ones? Also, lawls to Syphon Flesh and Syphon Mind being in there. Put a little bit of heart and soul into it, Syphon? Or maybe some belly fat and a mendulla oblongata?

@Beautiful Creatures: LAAAAAAAAAAME. Twilight baggage, most def.

@Nothing in particular: Starting Monday, I will be gainfully employed once again.

@Avocado: It does fit that role, it's very delicious. Slavan is sad 'cause he's allergic.

@Gatecrash: Honestly, they look as cool and fun as Return to Ravnica was. I'm excited for the next set. So far, I think I like Firemane Avenger the best. Possibly due to the home it has in my rather aggressive Brion Stoutarm.

@Resolutions: I'm not a huge fan of resolutions, but I am a goal-oriented person, so there's definitely some things I'm working on:

1. Find a career position that can let my wife be at home.
2. Barring 1, get into a Master's program.
3. Successfully train a successor to run Magic tournaments at the shop I run. I'm very good friends with the owners, so I'm not interested in just leaving them high and dry without a strong TO.
4. Sell a story.
5. Game more often (both video, board, and Magic).
6. Discover myself again.