Is there a difference between parenting done out of some love and desire to have children, versus raising children because they are an obligation?

I'll admit there have been times that i felt it would be easier to give my children away than deal with some of the hassles that raising children financially and emotionally overwhelms upon my life...however i look at them, and realize i could never eliminate them from my life, i love them, and for better or for worse i chose them, and the hugs, kisses and squinty smiles make up for the broken dishes, dead animals, lack of social life, limited finances, notes from the teacher and a demolished house!(that's on a good day)...however I do it because i want to. If i didn't i could give them away, send them to a private schoool...so with this admittance itcould eliminate my obligation to raising them...but i choose to keep them and prefer to love them, raising them to be good girls through my values, morals and those of my husband...rather than passing them onto someone who may have an easier time caring for them...

Does this make us any less of parents than those who have the money to send their children to a private school...the children get everything they need, except parental affection and influence, however is emotional care important for children to be successful in this world? the parents who send their children away have eliminated their responsibilities as parents yet are still fufilling perceieved "obligations"

Who is the better parent, if it can be distinguished between the two?

one is 'obligated' to love one's parents for their support and the gift of life... and i do feel gratitude... but love? i have yet to define love in any conceptual manner... how can i assign something that i do not know?

the better parent is the one that will stick around to look after them

whilst beating them to a pulp for every infraction...

so are you suggesting people should beat their children more?

no... i was just applying a contrast to masochist's assumption that present parents are better parents...

ahhh...they say to at least devote fifteen minutes of quality time to your child a day, their personality is permanent by the age of three, and by the age of ten they've learned everything they are going to learn...after that point it becomes memorization...

i think it's important to talk and listen to your child. reguardless of what the content is ...

yes it is, my current favorite has become her stories of horse land in the mountains...my daughter created that all by herself...i'm so proud of her! However her questions about sex and why boys are more fun makes me a little...

There is no difference between parenting out of love and obligation, they both require the parents to take care of the child and provide what is needed. The ones that love their children are ofcourse better since they will have the strength to go beyond duty, and fight till the bitter end. Obligation can only take you so far. The children that aren't loved have another disadvantage, they have to learn to love from someone/something else and that is very hard to do thsse days.

How I see children depends on what mood I'm in. If I'm grumpy, they're the most annoying little bundles of joy you ever did see. Otherwise, they're usually fun to be with, It gives me an excuse to act immature ^^.



They still won't let me in the ball pit though... *sigh* I loved the ball pit.