Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for September 07, 2009

Dad knows where of he speaks…

Not being a parent is what suits me fine. I like kids, as long as they are someone elses.

Exactly ;0)

Yes, yes, Daddy!

Cleokaya, I’ll third that notion.

Dad, it’s the intermingling of love and fear.

This news story will give you insight into Dad and Mum’s feelings. It’s a great ending.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2009/09/05/bc-lost-toddler-yukon-dog.html

But, without Calvin, who would his dad be able to tell stories to…like the Sun going to Arizona when it sets, or driving heavier and heavier trucks over bridges to determine the load limit, or Calvin pupating from a grub when he was two…

Fatherhood has its perks.

Yukoner, nice story.

This comic is utterly brilliant..

It certainly is a rollercoaster ride when you have kids - but you wouldn’t miss it for the world!

Send Hobbes after him.

So much for the accusation that Calvin’s parents don’t care about him and never wanted him.

All my friends that didn’t have kids have regretted it now that they’re older. They got so wrapped up in their careers and their own self-indulgence that they missed out. Jobs come and go, friends come and go, but your family’s there with you forever! Going through the good times and the bad times together is what family is all about!

Have to admit … I never really wanted kids of my own. I married into an instant family with grown children. Now I have grand-kids and they are great.

Kids have a way of growing on you.

or wanting to throw them to the crocodiles .. aint it Dad?

Comic-Nut .. dont mean to criticise .. but dont you think the joy of hearing your kid calling you out Dad and looking upto you is something thats worth all that?

I never wanted kids either. I have two of them, both were unplanned. A girl and a boy with a huge age gap. They have both terrified me enough that I swear my heart stopped and that my world would end. They both have also shown me so much love and trust that it makes me feel as if my heart would burst with pride and joy. Of everything I have ever done, or has happened in my life, nothing compares to having my two munchkins.

Love my kids, tears and all. Hiked the Grand Canyon with them this summer (now that they’re getting taller than me, it’s more fun!), and it’s all good. Of course, with two teenagers, it’s not ALL fun, but I wouldn’t trade.

herocoder, Someone might say that they look up to you until they grow up. Then they look down on you!

I read a quote some time ago that went like this: A kid thinks he’s smart. An elder thinks he’s wise. Nobody pays any attention to either.

I guess zero population control went out when we hit 6 billion. Your kids will see 7 billion. Wonder what they’ll eat?

We enjoyed our children while they were growing and learning, and still enjoy them now they are on their own and productive members of this planet we call home. We’re proud to have had a part in raising them to be so.

Another important life lesson for young Calvin: Never leave your wing-man!

cleokaya said,

Not being a parent is what suits me fine. I like kids, as long as they are someone elses.

~~~

I agree with this but I know that those who have kids find them a joy and a blessing (most of the time). I get told I don’t know what I’m missing, maybe I don’t. But I’m content as I am without kids.

Every child deserves to be cherished, Unfortunately, not all are. Parenthood has been a privilege for me. Kudos to those who choose not to have children - you’re OK in my book!

See, dad does care!! Love it.

THIS is one reason I am glad I have kids. But anyone with out kids would never be able to conceive that feeling. Most I have talked to do not understand and they are not able to. No offense intended. And it does come back to you when you get older.

grazer said, “Kids have a way of growing on you.” I like some of the one or two liners with double meanings, including yours. Someone might put another sense on it by saying: “Kids have a way of growing on you, like parasites, or barnacles.”

BinaryWiener, I like your quote. People pay attention to me, but it’s not always good. Either I’m an exception to the rule, or I don’t fit into either one of those categories.

I could not fathom life without kids! I had 3 of them, Yes there were some difficult times but the good times far out weighed the bad times…..and oh yes, 14 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild!

cleokaya’s comments have taken my thoughts right out of my mind. I have already said on a number of occasions that I like kids - as long as they’re somebody else’s.

As for those of you who have said that Calvin’s parents don’t care about him in previous strip posts, I think you stand corrected with this strip.

my late wife and i shared 5 kids, andwe ran into situations like this with all of them in one form or another, but i wouldn’t change it for the world

It has been interesting hearing all of your comments on parenthood. My friends with children always challenged my desire to not have kids buy saying “You’d change your mind if you had your own.” My reply was “Yes, but what if I didn’t?” I love kids, but knew that I was to selfish to be a father. I have spent my life traveling, exploring wonderful new places as a travel photographer. I did not want to give that up. It is better to realize that ahead of time rather than to not give a child all of the attention they need as they make their way through the adventures of life.

Yukoner, thanks for the wonderful story !!!

Dino-1, I agree 100% with you.

Yukoner said, about 9 hours ago

“Dad, it’s the intermingling of love and fear.”

Of course! And the love is more basic: we wouldn’t care enough to fear without the love.

I am happy my siblings had kids, never felt the need myself.

Lewreader said:I guess zero population control went out when we hit 6 billion. Your kids will see 7 billion. Wonder what they’ll eat?

You do know that there are thousands of farmers that are paid not to grow crops. And the world has a way of dealing with too much population. Anyway I have just one child, almost grown, and I still wished I had 6. Children have been my focus all my life. But not my brothers, he had one, not planned, and then after that he kinda adopted the older sister. Eventhou she was not his. I have respect for those who chose not to have kids. They are missing out, but hey they might have siblings and/or friends that have kids, so they can get their kid fix that way.

I’m glad my parents decided to have children. Otherwise it would have made for complications for my 3 children and 5 grandchildren.

Dad said it so well Calvin was selfish he should have taken Hobbes We had a large family and I think thats why I enjoy a good comic , reminds me of the good days reading comics to my kids or with them

I think its the other way around

If I had known that Grandkids were so great, I would have had them first.

I have two now grown boy and girl my sister and husband could not have kids and wanted kids. Pets are their kids. When ours were little we always told them if you lose track of us stay where you were we would find you, this happened at the state fair. When this happened once one of us took the front and back with kids in the middle. Not at the zoo. We did not have teathers when my kids where little. Now days I see dads taking more interest in their children and wish that had happened back then. By the way can you imagine if all mom’s had tattoes in the back of their legs children would not know who their mom’s are without looking up. I hope everyone is enjoying Labor Day off.

I’ve been on both sides of the kids-no kids decisions. I didn’t want kids, and went for quite a while without a child and was content. Then I met the woman who changed my mind and we had two, a girl and then a boy. What a great difference it made in my life - I had had no idea what I was missing. Maybe not for everyone, but I found that a child plugged the vacancy in my life that I had not even known was there. Can’t really be explained with words.

Yukoner: Thanks for the link - nice.

Puddleglum2: In Doonesbury yesterday, I came across a “Puddleglum1066” - a relative of yours? Or just another Marsh-wiggle?

Ah whole lot ah “hart on sleeve” today , love it .

My two cents ; I was truly amazed how smart my parents became . About the time I turned 25 or so . Now it’s coming home from our 5 , one at a time . I’ll love IT all the to the grave .

cleokaya & Macushlalondra, I’m totally with you both on this one!

For whatever their reasons, some people make the decision that they are not cut out to be parents and they should be congratulated for not bringing more unwanted children into an already over-populated world instead of being made to feel bad for their decision and ridiculed for it. Unwanted/unplanned/unexpected children are often abused, neglected and/or abandoned. Under such circumstances, I don’t know how anyone could say that by making such a decision it makes someone a bad person.

Trying to explain the joys of authoring life is a major exercise in futility . Having tried to give an answer many many times . I’ve had three achieved authors thank me for my studious attempt to riddle this mystery . Like the proverbial “broken record”or a trio one at time . Thanked me for the in-depth . Then the unanimous Affirmation “I can see now what you tried so hard to explain and couldn’t”.

NO other joy like IT in this world .

aerwalt said: “If I had known that Grandkids were so great, I would have had them first.”

I’ve seen that slogan on a T-shirt and thought it was a good idea. So I married a man twice my age and now have grandkids without having the years of torment raising kids! It’s a win-win IMHO!

I think having children or not should be the person’s private decision. What suits one person may not suit another. And everybody’s circumstances are unique.

Ushindi, If Puddleglum1066 is a relative of mine, I’m not aware of it, and I don’t read Doonesbury. I doubt that there are 1065 other Puddleglums. Suppose that they were all clones of me, that would be pandemic! Do I hear an amen, somebody? It’s highly unlikely that the number has anything to do with the Battle of Hastings. My guess is that the number would refer to the person’s month and year of birth. Apparently, this other Puddleglum has read The Silver Chair from the Chronicles of Narnia and liked the character as I do. Marsh-wiggles of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your miasma!

See the last panel: “…there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:46b If Calvin’s father found Calvin hurt, or worse, would he still feel like doing the second one of those contrasting things he mentioned, especially if he found Calvin in that condition? Tragically, things like that happen these days, and with more and more frequency it seems, unless it’s just getting publicized more. Flippant remarks sometimes need to be regretted, later.