Not everyone *wants* to have children, nor can everyone actually *have* children. Sorry to hear she is unwell but as I said before my mom was a single parent and did it on her own and had a MESS of plants and we had several birds/fish/rodents and then my first dog. And btw, I pay my own rent, and bills and have no BF/Husband living with me, My mom only helps me minimally as she has to pay *her* own bills all by herself. And with African Violets you have to make sure not to get water on the leaves as it kills them, pour the water into the dish at the bottom . I do not work two jobs because I don't *need* to but I *do* work full-time. Next year I may go to night school a couple of times a week too. And I have heard hairless animals cause less allergy attacks and I am aware it's the dander that's a trigger, and NOT the fur. I believe some kinds of poodles are supposed to be good for allergic people? I can't remember.

I still maintain that if you can't afford one kid, you shouldn't keep having them. I only have one dog despite so many telling me to get another one, I can't afford food and vet bills etc for two dogs, and I was lucky to find a place to live that would allow Juneau. He is my only 'pet' and will be for a long time.

Originally posted by Karen


Any plants given to my sister die within a month, from lack of water. Would you wish that on an animal? She is currently recovering at home from surgery, and called me to say someone sent her some very pretty African Violets - and how sad she was that the person had unknowingly sent them to their doom! (I told her maybe her daughter, age 8, could be taught to water the poor things.)

She is a grown person, a responsible person, and manages a lot. Tell you what - once YOU have children, ( and in her case two jobs) then you can argue whether that automatically makes you have time for a pet! And by the way, it's the skin - the dander - that causes allergies, not the hair itself.

To each his or her own decision. I honestly believe that.