I also wanted to weigh in on the analog/Ustwo debate...
First...analog, hon, take a deep breath and quit taking everything so personally. I asked for advice and opinions and that's what Ustwo is providing. I see people treat their dogs like kids and it drives me nuts, too! And I do feel sorry for them, and condescending toward them, and I'm not even a breeder! It's not that they chose not to have children that makes them pathetic, it's that they chose to sublimate what's obviously a nurturing, child-having urge and are taking it out on some poor canine. That doesn't strike me as particularly healthy, nor fulfilling human potential. Having been on your side of the fence for most of my adut life, I know how often the "childfree" are subjected to criticism, ridicule, condescension, and that patronizing "you'll change your mind" crap. So I know it's easy to be very sensitive and see that everywhere, and go off on it. But I find that it's a lot easier to just let it roll off your back and instead of digging in your toes and pushing back, just "tai chi" the comments and say, "y'know what, you could be right! I might change my mind. But right now, this is where I am. And I'm comfy here." And right now where I am is comfortably uncertain. I'm exploring, and trying to see all the sides of things, and that includes the possibility that if I think for too long and think myself out of having kids, I might very well regret it. But I can regret it and still have a full and wonderful life. The whole "logic/emotion" debate is a red herring for the real issue, which is that there is no one right choice, and everyone makes up their own minds based on completely idiosyncratic and uniquely idiotic/selfish/emotional/logical/mysterious reasons. I think Ustwo's just saying "yes, having kids is great, and you can't know how great till you do it. Don't be one of those people who wants it, and thinks themselves out of having it, and then goes batshit buying doggie sweaters to make up for it." He's entitled to think we should do this, and you're entitled to think we should not. I don't feel condescended to, and in the event that we choose not to have kids, Ustwo will probably think we've made a mistake. And he might be right. But it'll be OUR mistake, and our lives to make the best of with what we have. In the end, unfortunately, all of your (y'all's) reasons are just grist for the mill and we'll have to make up our minds ourselves. I wish I had a great big magic 8 ball that would tell me what to do
