Talk me out of adopting a child

DON'T DO IT! End of story!

You should really check out Livingtree. It's done up in winter right now. But boy is it fun!

I went the other night to look around...in adult mode mind you...and had a wonderful time. Regardless of season, Livingtree always delivers a great time!

Fair warning though...Mari is deadly with snowballs!

Almost forgot about this... Tell me if it works for you. (^_^)y

Uhhh... it actually makes me *want* to do it.

Is that the SL version of Eve Dallas?

Give yourself a slap - that image is so stereotype of what we "should" be for so many males. Slap yourself again just to be sure.
Besides they look like shop-manniquins. Kids have snot and make a lot of noise. Germ factories really. You wont afford a lifestyle with those hanging from your teats.

LOL - you're lucky that I like you, you nut.

Jig - I hear your opinions - and there's not a damn thing wrong with expressing maternal feelings. Some women have them - some don't. Does it make us any more female? No - it doesn't. Are there women out there who definitely do NOT need to procreate? Absolutely - there are. But without women and procreation, there are no people. I am a woman, and I'm very maternal and I wouldn't change that for anything. I love who and what I am. I'm also a very responsible (working) mother in real life - and have a child in Second Life simply FOR THE FUN OF IT. I do not do it for psychological reasons - or to "validate" myself. I do it because I think Second Life children can be fun/funny. However, I do agree that there are several out there who emotionally - well, are waaaayyy out there. I also role play a child for the fun of it. I do not role play in mature areas - and I keep my role play PG ...

There is nothing wrong with fun ... I have had sooo much fun clogging the toilets, sinks, writing on walls and flooring ... and when "babysitting" child avs - we get out the bombs and blow up buildings while we sit in a bunker in complete camo garb. Then there are the simple "innocent" jokes that can have you howling with laughter ... or the visual of an adorable looking kid avatar sitting on a rideable pig who eats apples ...

To the original poster - there is a lot of controversy over child avatars in Second Life - mostly because there are a lot of pervs and weird people out there. But there is a huge community of kids / families in Second Life that have a ton of fun. And we have a blast doing it. ALWAYS get to know the child prior to adopting. Make sure that you have guidelines ... and be wary of those who roleplay kids who want parents simply for the lindens. There are those out there that have had 7/8 sets of parents - they should put something about you in their profile - to insure that they have only one set. If they are constantly asking for things or lindens - then say goodbye. Also - don't try to fix them ... if they had horrible experiences as children in real life - and are looking to "fix" that with a second life - not a good idea. They will be needy ... Its my opinion that people need to fix that in real life - and heal in real life ... not try to heal themselves through an electronic platform - it doesn't work.

Good luck ... and HAVE FUN!!!

Pour yourself a glass of wine, turn on teh TV (or radio), kick back and relax. You've worked hard for your family. You deserve a break. Let those hormonal maternal feelings dissipate. They will slip away as you dream of what you can buy for yourself coz you dont have five ankle-biters or avarats sniffling around you and whining for attention. Then chuck teh cat outside so it can learn to survive and put teh goldfish on to boil. You've earned teh rest.

Interesting comment though. If a woman happens to wish for a life that matches what many men stereotypically want women to be.. She's not allowed? I ask because I often see women pass comments like that. Surely that's not what the fight for equality was about?

I think whichever way a woman goes, she will catch shit for it.

I appreciate you comment so I should add a serious comment after my last two fun ones. Just as an aside and maybe a means to understand my "stand", I had a great childhood. I was taken all over teh world and lived in many fantastic places. I was doted on. And I think I turned out pretty good - had a few probs but starting to get them in perspective. But, this is teh thing with this adoption process and even child avies. I had a brilliant gran (no grandad) who always taught me that "it's good to look back but it's best not to stare" - and so I have always been progressive and when I get nostalgic I pinch myself.

I have NOTHING AGAINST real adoption. But parenting isnt a game and childhood isnt either. I mean that WE as adults see it in a completely different way than kids do.

I think we are dangerously close to seeing childhood as a time of play and fun ("Lord of teh Flies" on Prozac)

But its serious business and when we get to our age (I am 28 now moving to 28ish) we "play-school" as children and I'm just not sure it is healthy. Maybe for some it is, but I honestly dont think talking to adults as if they havent processed puberty is really inflicting issues that may come back to haunt the persons involved. I am not rabidly opposed to child avats just vy suspicious for teh mentail healthside of it. Other fantasies are equally unappealing to me. That's all, really. One girl's meat is another girl's poison I guess. But opinions are valid. And important.

I was a serious-happy kid and much preferred listening to folk songs and old punk rock. I probably never really WAS a kid in the traditional sense. Anyway I hope that explained my commentaries a bit better. Obviously we all have VERY diffrent opinions upon a totally important topic.

Heh... You're a braver soul than I. (O.o)

Immy ( And, I'm the kid AV in the picture. (o.O) )

Yeah, this is kinda what has me wondering too. It all seems rather silly to me. I'd rather not have ANYONE of ANY gender telling me what I can and can't do with my life. I know some women who are just peachy with being the stereotypical wife. It suits their personality and it makes 'em happy. I'm cool with that. It's just not what I want in my life.

Of course you are allowed but it can be so defeating unless your husband is f**king extraordinary. Before you get too annoyed I wonder if this may be a generational thing? I mean maybe you are older than me? If so I think you may have met a different generation of men when you were casting around for a mate. I know we may be off topic but men MY age are so arrogant and self-absorbed. Many I meet have really been indulged and consider themselves God's gift. Truly into the "male-pysche" whereas men of teh 70s and even 80s might have been different coz they were aware of feminism. Young men today sneer at it or reject it as simply "lesbian fury". Even take a look at comments posted in forums by males. Some of them arent joking.
I must add that yesterday I invited a young man to see my gallery/home since he was flying around my ground level. And first thing he did was pull out his penis and piss against teh wall on a painting. Charming. And not unlike reality.

Hee!

Livingtree is designed to be fun for all ages. Yes, it does have stores, and those stores keep the sim on the grid -- but really, we want it to be a place people can come to and enjoy, and not feel overwhelmed with a commercial message, and enjoy (virtual) nature in a safe environment.

Glad you enjoyed it, Jerboa!

Hey Jig...I haven't put together a kid avvid yet, but here's how I view kid avvies....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5S1JPwjcdo

Give 'em a chance to find Billy The Kid.

Awww... HOW CUTE!!!

Stop it! Buy yourself something expensive. The kid looks liek it needs a bath. Probably has lice or a tapeworm.
I actually DID have a tapeworm when I was a kid so I know these things.
Kids smell and fail at school.

The song always makes me cry- lost innocence, lost time-

My God, people, is there something in the water?? Stop this maternal hottub stuff, its so not me.

Nope. In the 70s and 80s we silently laughed (wouldn't have done for it to be overt - it was the dawn of political correctness) and watched the feminist generation waste their time banging their head on the glass ceiling and then panicking when the biological clock started ticking, leaving a bunch of liberal organisations with a hole where their aspirational middle management used to be.

Pep (Our sons have learned from our experience)

What you talk'n 'bout? (=_=)



(Guh... That's my oooooold avatar(>_< .. I look WAY better now. =^-^= )

Remind me to tell you a story next time we're inworld. You might get a couple of new threads out of it.

I think it's funny, but it will probably drive you up the wall.

Two years in a row of honors at HardKnock Elementary, so there!

An it's my brother that smells.