Post #68938 by Tiki_Bong on Mon, Jan 12, 2004 9:53 AM

To have children or not is a personal choice (well, usually), Mdm. Bong and I talked it over when we got married, waited 3.74 years then Samantha was born.

For her first 5 years of her life, I was self-absorbed with my bands, surfing, riding bikes down to Newport to drink, and generally acting like I was 19 (with a fake ID that is!). Unfortunately I was in my early 30's.

Next, Sarah was born. She was the new baby and so Samantha pretty much received less attention. Time went on. I was still doing my own thing with my usual pre-occupations.

Fast forward to 2003. Samantha is now 12 and is into being with her friends and learning who she is. I finally realized I f**#'d up and should have been spending alot more time with her. But it was too late. Fortunately, Sahah is still young enough for me to make up a little time.

At some point in my life I remember thinking that if I had kids, I would always be doing things with them all the time. As a kid myself, I really don't remember my mother or step-father ever doing much of anything with me (big suprise, huh?).

So keep this in mind if you have children: you had before they arrived, and will have after they become young adults plenty of time to hang with friends, drink, play guitar, and generally do whatever you want. What you don't have and will lose forever, is the time to be with them when they are young...