[MMM]

Originally Posted by GoNative

The thing is MMM is that for many women I know they have spent years educating themselves, many are lawyers or scientists with PHD's. These women just like most men have great career aspirations and to throw all that education and training away to spend a large portion of their lives raising children would be a great sacrifice and frankly a great loss to society.

Since when is raising a child equal to "throwing an education away"? Are your achievements in education not still those achievements, whether you take off two weeks, or take off six years? Your degrees and achievements are not "thrown away" just because you choose to raise your child.

And this is my opinion, but I think society would be better served not only by lawyers and scientists, but by children who are raised by their parents, rather than strangers.

Originally Posted by GoNative

These are very intelligent and ambitious women who have not grown up ever thinking they would be spending any of their life sitting around a house cleaning up after their husband.

If one wants to focus on their career, then great. Don't have kids.

If one doesn't want to deal with the give and take of having a husband, then great. Don't get married.

Originally Posted by GoNative

Most of them firmly establish themselves in their careers before even thinking about having children or getting married so rarely have children before they are 30. And they generally get back into work as quickly as possible after having their children. Some may consider this selfish but isn't it just as selfish for men to expect a women to be the ones to sacrifice their careers and ambitions after a child is born? I guess it depends how much you believe in traditional roles for men and women.

So explain to me, why are they having children at all? If a parent's goal is to get back to work ASAP not out of need, but out of career aspirations, then I can't help but wonder why they had children in the first place.

I think the problem, at least in the US is that there is modern movement for equality. I am not talking about equal pay for equal work, but in families with men and women taking the same roles. I have nothing against a man staying at home and the woman going to work. I just think SOMEONE should be there to raise the child, mom or dad. If not, why are these career-focused parents having children at all?

Originally Posted by WingsToDiscovery

A man should ALWAYS pay. This is "Game 101." There is only one exception to this rule:
1: The relationship is completely platonic and the girl asks you to take her to eat somewhere foreign/expensive.*

*= Even when the meal is her idea, you need to offfer to pay. If she insists, be glad you're not out any money, as this gesture still won't get you any anyway. If you're a true alpha male, take the bill and pay it regardless.

Basically, it shouldn't even be a question of whether or not a guy should pay, no matter the culture. It's basic instinct. There's nothing worse than when a girl PMSs over a guy holding the door for her or other gestures like that.

And if you're a guy and you can't even afford to pay for your girl, then you shouldn't even think about a relationship with her yet. A small dinner is one of the lowest things on the expenses scale you'll need to be ready to afford.

I think I have never agreed with you more.