to be a bit annoyed at my boss's comments?

[Bumperlicious]

Was having a friendly, non-worked related chat with my boss (male, childless) about the merits of a Nintendo Wii. He was saying they are ridiculous and you should just get out and get some fresh air. I said until I had a baby I completely agreed, but since having a baby I have appreciated the value of it! I don't get a chance to go and and go bowling/play tennis.

He said went on to tell me about how when last in Wales he saw a couple taking a 3 month old baby up a mountain, as if I should be doing the same thing.

I laughed and said "well, what you don't see is the weeks worth of planning and the packing of the car full of crap they had to take"

he said "well, it's your choice to have children" I said "that's harsh, all I was doing is arguing the merits of a Wii when you have kids, and he said, "well, I'll say it again, you chose to have kids, you have to learn to manage it yourself."

I just thought that was a really crap comment, really unnecessary, made me feel really shit.

Am I just being really sensitive? I probably am. It just made me feel a bit offended and I didn't know how to respond.

what a wanker.
don't discuss kids again, I think he's shown you where he stands.

He sounds like a total cock. Ignore with impunity

My brother speaks like this, it is easier for me to let rip to him than it is for you to your boss, its an ignorant comment and he sounds like a tosser.

But that is precisely what you were doing, but he was too thick to see it. You can't do the gym/hike up a mountain thing to keep fit, so you've got a Wii fit which fits in with your commitments to your family.

Not to mention the fact that maybe, just maybe, you and your kids aren't all that sold on the idea of slogging up mountains, preferring instead to have cosy family fun indoors.

Thanks, I thought I was just being insensitive, I can't even describe why it annoyed me. It just made me feel really frivolous to have chosen to have a child, like being childless is the default option.

I don't get what was so wrong with his comment, it's true we have all chosen to have kids and we do have to just get on with it. If he'd had said 'oh poor you, that baby has prevented you from doing so much' that wouldn't have sounded too nice. I agree he was a bit short, but what he said is true.

have you seen the episode of scrubs when all they say back in an argument is 'so's your face'. its one of those comments. subtitles read 'i cant think of any clever response and i know i will lose so i will throw in whatever i can think of that you cant disagree with'. you cant respond really, just roll your eyes at him to show you think he is a prat

scanner - I think it's the implication that walking up mountains is somehow better or more worthy than playing on the Wii. Him saying that Bumperlicious should learn to manage things better kind of implies that she is somehow failing by not dragging her kids out and about, when the two activities are neither comparable nor mutually exclusive. At least that's how I read it, but then I am a short-tempered cow

No, you're right cyteen I wasn't thinking properly - I take it back. He's a shit.

You have to do that smug laugh when you say, ah you don't have children do you? snigger, and then a telling shake of the head a smile, like I'm in a club that you're not and I pity you look and walk away, smiling to yourself...... or when he says 'you chose to have kids', reply with 'I know, it's bloody brilliant and I love every minute'... then he's nowhere to go.

Well, we all to pray that no woman is stupid enough to breed with that prat.

Twelvelegs I'm likeing your style!!!!

Or when he has children give him a baby carrier and book about hiking and after 2 weeks sound disappointed when he says he hasn't used it yet

No, he definitely isn't having kids, he has dogs - like that's comparable! Still they'd have a better time up a mountain than DD that's for sure.

I should have said that my DD will be funding his retirement!

I just hate it when childless people use this argument. Do they realise what would happen if we all chose not to have kids?

You really need to talk more about your DCs - really play it up. Only say the nice things like cuddles etc. Do not mention vomit, poo and no sleep. Really make him feel like he is missing out.

Mind games are the best form of revenge.

I always remind people like him that if we didn't have kids then there would be no-one to look after him in the nursing home, no-one to run the hospitals he'll need, no-one to build the roads etc etc because there wouldn't be any adults in 50 years time.

Ignore him...idiot that he is.