Why do they need your undivided attention? That sounds pretty smothering. Why not share the experince of travel with your kids.
BTW I am not picking on you but it is a common theme for people to say what you just said as their reason for not having kids.
Nah, I didn't think you were picking on me, ubby
Er, I don't think my turn of phrase was necessarily meant as "smothering" so much as a general observation that in the first six or seven years of life, kids are just generally very absorbing. I have my brother his two little girls aged 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 as an example. He and his wife don't have so much as a second to spare. Juggling a house, successful careers and two little children is no walk in the park. My brother works sixteen hours a day in an executive and extremely stressful position. My sis-in-law works from home and keeps house in pristine condition whilst cooking healthy, homemade meals and trying to think up of learning activities for the kids instead of parking them in front of the television. By 8:30 at night, when the kids are both in bed, they're absolutely exhausted. I bet they're not thinking about anything but going to bed themselves. My SIL sometimes still has to wake up to mind the youngest because she stopped sleeping through the night again. They're pretty stretched thin.
And this is with both grandmothers and two aunts on call for babysitting.
As for travelling... hmm... Taking even well-behaved kids to the grocery store is a feat in my experience. I can't imagine having a hyperactive child (and goodness knows, those parents need to be blessed with patience... like a family friend of ours).
My brother and his wife are in the mid and early thirties respectively. By the time things calm down around the house when the kids are more suitably independent and in school, they're going to be pushing toward forty. If they had kids earlier, prior to establishing their careers and living a little, I don't think they would be half as sane as they are now.
Maybe I'm just selfish for thinking this, but I know I'm not going to be ready for such a lifestyle anytime soon. Especially where my career path is taking me. I've already two years behind my peers where career is concerned, and I'd like to have a few years to myself after I finish all my schooling and get settled into my job.
Some people did their partying in highschool and travelled in college. I did very little of that. I'd like to catch up on what I've missed before I settle down.
Ack, sorry for the monologue, btw!