Okay, so if there is a show like, say Bones or NCIS on that refers to the death of a child, I tear up. I am a girl & a mom, it is what we do. I am pretty sure that I could sit down with any of the females on here, explain that to them and they'd get it. HOWEVER, my husband doesn't. I know he loves our kid, but clearly it is a completely different love than mine, but can you men describe your love for your kid(s)? I was ever curious... 

my girl is the begining and the end. she is everything in the world to me. i truely believe i would die if anything happened to her. i'm sure i'll probably get another stupid question like "are you a woman" for my comment but i don't care. i love my child more than i love my own life. oh, and my baby is 37 now so it never truely ends no matter how old they get. i really feel sorry for the guys who can't or won't show the feelings they should for their kids, wife, or family. it's not a weakness to accept and understand your feelings it's a blessing. i learned this from my grandfather the best example of real man i've ever met. so now i'm ready for the bashing...oh, but i won't reply because it's just not worth my time. 

I am not a guy but my husband cried the day my son was born (and no hes not a girly guy , you have to hit him with a stick to show ANY emotion) and he also got very upset the day he was told he was getting deployed...he started ranting and raving about how he was going to miss his son's first everything etc so on...it took me forever to calm him down...so not only women show emotion for their kids 

Ok, first off I canceled my account when all the drama started happening on this site and I recreated it just so I could come on here and say how amazing and refreshing it is to hear a man talk like that. The only reason anyone would get on here and talk crap is because they have nothing better to do. Hats off you to Bob!! Ducky, I wish I had some insight to give you. I am one of the odd women who really has no wish to have children. Who knows, maybe one day it will hit me and I will change to become a loving mother like you : ) But if it doesn't, my feelings wont be hurt. I do know what you mean about men and them not being as sensitive as we are, and sometimes it really can be frustrating. It really is amazing how different we are hardwired. 

Are you a grandpa Bob? I have a hard time imagining that. 

Gosh. 

Dang. 

remember, men are from mars and women are from venus. i'm not sure if i'm really more emotional or if it's that i understand what i have and i'm not afraid to show that i appreciate it. i do feel that i have been able to enjoy my family and my life as a whole a lot more than i would have if i tried to hold everything inside. 

cassandra, nope, i'm not a grandpa. my daughter is like victoria6red. she told me flat out that ain't gonna happen. oh well, i guess i'll just have to spoil her some more since i don't have a grandkid to spoil. 

victoria6red, Girl, I was child-free for 36 of my 39 years. I never thought I wanted kids and swore up and down that I was not going to go through child birth (which I didn't, ER C-Section) Anyhow, my husband convinced me and now I am a blubbering mess or a lioness when it comes to protecting my cub, as well as others. Well, at least now I get it, you know? Just because you don't have a cub, doesn't mean you don't get it. I think it is awesome that you understand where this question came from! 

Bob, My friend, you are old enough to be my dad. Thank you for saying what you have, as I have always worried that I disappointed my father. For me, the sun rises and sets in his approval. I am sure your little girl feels the same about you. I hug you, MAN! 

Bob, I am going to agree with Ducky here...I haven't told my dad that I don't want kids. haha, I am just hoping one day he will give up on asking about grandkids. Ducky, you know everyone tells me that. One day it will hit me, and if it does that will be great, but if it doesn't I won't be too upset. The good thing is that my husband already has a son, so he will be able to "pass on the name" and all that stuff men worry about, lol! 

victoria6red I can understand you....there are women that chose not to want kids then don't, i think really its the persons preferance. I know couples that don't want kids at all. I was afraid to tell my dad I wanted kids. He wanted me to have kids but wanted me to wait until i was like 30-35 and I just laughed...I would rather be in my 20s and do it (my preferance) because well at 20 I barely have the energy for them NOW lol.... 

Papa's with Bob! And I can relate to Ducky as well! And for Victoria6Red...I don't think you're "odd"; I think you're honest! Nothing wrong with not wanting to have kids....personal choice of course. Better to not want them and not have them, the to not want them and have them....Just my two cents! 

My husband has two rules : Don't mess with the kids, and don't mess with the dogs, and everything will be fine. He's not worried about anybody messing with me, because that's what the dogs are for, apparently lol. 

Ya know Ducky....my hubby is a 20 plus yr AF cop, from Texas, a mans man BUT he will tell you in a minute...you dont mess with family, his dogs or kids. He also told me that no matter how hardened a criminal is in jail, you throw an accused pediphile in the prison with them and all hell breaks loose...ON the pedophile. even the murderers and the likes have kids and when the thought of someone messing with thier kids...its a different story. If something were to happen to my babies, I would be beside myself. Victoria, no one should down you for not wanting kids...that is your choice...thank you for not coming downon the others that have them Bob...you are alright with me!! 

well, now that the subject has been addressed i have to admit my dogs have always been like my children. when my last german shepherd died last january i felt like i was gonna die. i actually feel like a part of me did die. it's good to see there are others who feel like i do. judging by the number of dogs for sale on the yard sales i was beginning to believe there weren't that many out there who really understood how special our four footed monsters can be. 

No kids of my own but if anyone ever f*cked with my friends kids I would hunt them down to the ends of the earth and make their death very slow and painful. 

Husker - that is why I asked the guys, I know what the women think/feel, bless all of our hearts! My husband is from Texas, too and is also a man's man. Strong silent type. I know he loves us, but he almost gets the giggles when I get choked up watching a show. He finds it so amusing that I have changed so much after having a beastie! He is now at the point that he tells me not to watch or tries to cover my eyes. 

Bob, I am so sorry about your dog. That kind of wound may heal, but it stays raw a long time. Hugs, my friend... 

Thanks for all the confidence on everyone having their own plan for a family and what it consists of. My baby is my doggie, that's all the responsiblity I need, lol! Huskerfan, no biggie ; ) I would never ever talk down to anyone having children. Just like everyone said, to each their own : ) 

My younger brother recently got married and had a child... It hurt my feelings that my dad told people that he had to because I wouldn't... I just don't feel ready for kids. (Im 24.) I cry over Hallmark commercials and videos on youtube. I know where you are coming from with the whole crying thing... 

steph, it's sad when parents feel they need to run their adult child's life. i don't understand how parents can't understand their remarks like this are hurtful. i was lucky, my parents stayed out of what i did. i left when i was 17 and made my own decisions from that time and i made that point clear. i don't and would never get involved in what my girl does. her mom likes to add her 2 cents worth but he's a big girl and she's married. it's not my place to live her life for her. besides, it's difficult enough raising a child when you feel ready it would be near impossible if you knew you didn't really want one yet. 

i didn't want to include this in the last post to make it too long. i've heard the term man's man for more years than i want to admit. i am still unable to grasp this term. it seems that a man's man either can't or won't embrace the emotions he has. is this the same as a vulcan? i just believe that trying to keep what you feel locked up deprives you of the kind of relationship you could have with your children, wife, and other family members. in addition, you are not giving them everything you have like i feel should happen. having a wife and children should equal opening up your soul to them so they can understan how fully you love them. hiding your feelings doesn't make you more of a man, being able to show your feelings even though you know at least some will laugh at you is a real show of being a real man in my opinion. 

Bob, would you like to come and talk to my husband for a while? Maybe you can set up a consueling session for all our husbands, lol!! 

i'm not sure that would help victoria6red. it's a slow process. it took me a couple of years to get my dad to open up to me. it was worth the effort because now he's the best friend i've ever had. i've actually had friends tell me they wished they could have a relationship with their fathers like i have with mine. the proplem is they don't know where to start or are just unwilling to try.