MichiganStephen

July 30th, 2015 at 12:44 PM ^

My wedding day, the day my first son was born and the day my second son was born. Also, the day my first son scored his first TD in flag football while I was the coach was pretty awesome.

ypsituckyboy

July 30th, 2015 at 12:50 PM ^

Outside of the whole wedding day / birthday's of children category, I'd go with the day I was accepted to UM Law School. I'd applied to Michigan for undergrad as a senior in high school and was rejected. I applied again after my freshman year in college and was rejected again. I finally got in on the third try and received all A's in my first semester at Michigan because I worked my butt off, due in no small part to the chip on my shoulder. Getting into UM Law on the first try, no waitlist, felt totally vindicating, like my hard work was finally being recognized.

ypsituckyboy

July 30th, 2015 at 1:26 PM ^

I think the best thing you can do is go to a community college or cheap directional school (WMU/EMU/CMU if you're in Michigan) and get great grades. I worked hard and did well during my first two years of college and I think my GPA showed them that I could hack it at UM. One suggestion I'd make is to take advantage of all the resources (tutoring, writing centers, and office hours) that are offered. Most of those go unused by the majority of the student population yet are quite helpful. The Sweetland Writing Center at UM became my second home once I transferred to UM and helped me develop as a writer. It saved my bacon on more than occasion. Going to a crappy h.s., I didn't have much experience writing longer papers, developing my thoughts/arguments, and really digging deeply into a subject. The folks at writing/tutoring centers are usually great at helping you become a better student.

As to the h.s. rejection, it was my fault. I didn't go to a great high school, so I had no help with my essay (it was awful in just about every way). Also, my high school grades weren't great (probably 3.5 or so) and ACT score (28) wasn't dazzling or anything. Not much else to say on that front.

bluewings

July 30th, 2015 at 1:19 PM ^

The letter was heavy so I was confident I got in. My mom already gave up on the thought I would be going to michigan. Well it was an acceptance letter. Everything from there is because of that... My best friends, wife, job, where I'm living. Oh Boy!!!

WestSider

July 30th, 2015 at 12:58 PM ^

in which the brain controls most emotions, and behaviors. Thought stopping, diversion, focus, and emotional regulation were instantly much easier.

bluewings

July 30th, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^

Hunting with my dad. I got my one and only buck that season when I was in high school. The deer sat on the table already cleaned. My dad's friend told my dad he got another one when I came from behind him with the surprise it was mine. Shortly after that my dad was diagnosed with cancer and passed away.

ijohnb

July 30th, 2015 at 1:07 PM ^

of the mandatory birth of child answer, I would actually have to say that the best day of my life were a series of days when we took our son to Disney World/Universal Studios.  It was like real life stopped happening for 5 days and utter awesomeness tooks its place.  I had never been either and it far exceeded expectations.  Might sound cheesy I know but I remember every second of the trip in detail.

bluewings

July 30th, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^

What do you think of married couples that do not have kids? Are they missing out on the greatest thing life could bring. I'm 30 with no kids, I work a lot. My wife works a lot. Is our life unfulfilling until we have a son or daughter. We do plan but well life is complicated

Wendyk5

July 30th, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^

I have lots of friends without kids (and who are too old now to have them). I would say they are, by and large, very fulfilled and have no regrets. Having kids is a personal decision and if you decide not to, it's the absolute right choice for you. It pains me to see people with kids who did it because they felt they should. If you do want to have kids, I hope it works out. If no, enjoy yourselves! 

ijohnb

July 30th, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^

with what you are saying, but I do think that people who do not have kids don't get to know themselves to the same extent as people who do.  There is a certain emotional shallowness to their perspective.  Happiness, sadness, fear, joy, apprehension.  All of these things are re-defined in such a way when you have kids that it is hard to remember how and what you felt before.  

It is frankly pretty funny to hear a person (and you do hear it surprisingly often) say "I don't have kids but I have dogs, so yeah, I get it."  No, you don't, not at all.  Not remotely close.

the_benjy_vortex

July 30th, 2015 at 4:30 PM ^

To each, his own.  I'm 40 and married, have no children and certainly do not plan to ever have any.  My wife and I could not be more fulfilled with our lives and, while we would be great parents if pushed into it, we know that we are way too selfish and would not be able to enjoy the same experiences with the frequency that we currently do. We have nieces and nephews and they are great, but the best part about them is being able to walk away and return to a quiet house or hop on a plane to NYC or Turks and Caicos on a whim.

Wendyk5

July 30th, 2015 at 4:58 PM ^

You are way ahead of the game. Even though I feel like a lot of the parents on here about my kids (adore them, completely devoted to them, etc...), I love being with my friends who don't have kids and live vicariously through them. I know one couple who loves India and so they go there for four months of the year during the winter, rent an apartment, ride scooters, do a little yoga, and eat Indian food. They couldn't do that if they had kids. 

I'm glad you know yourselves well enough to do the thing that works best for you. 

 

the_benjy_vortex

July 30th, 2015 at 6:30 PM ^

As much fun as we have and as fortunate as we are to be able to enjoy our lives the way we do, I have to admit how frustrating it is at how difficult it is to get together with my best friends I went to UM with. They all have children and cannot get away for shenanigans the way they used to. Even football Saturdays has seen attendance of our tailgate regulars dwindle as their children get older and participate in their own sporting events.




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aratman

July 30th, 2015 at 1:44 PM ^

They are great at spending your money and wasting time you would rather spend drinking beer and watching tv. Seriously do I really need to see every little moment.  I have kids and love the crap out of them, and all those moments, but it is a HUGE sacrafice.   IF you don't feel like you are missing something then you probably aren't.

Mattinboots

July 30th, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^

My son and wife are the best thing to ever happen to me, but my wife and I were great before son and it definitely took a while to get back to that after. And I'll also say, be prepared for the change in your relationship once sex has a procreation goal in mind and that goal not achieved right away.




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xtramelanin

July 30th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^

i would add that we as a society spend time applying for and burying ourselves in debt which is a curse, but spend time avoiding having children, who are a blessing.  maybe we have it the wrong way?  

to more pointedly answer your question, you are certainly not some lesser person b/c you don't have children and don't let anyone tell you that or make you feel that way.  however, just like marriage makes the depth and breadth of the appreciation of your spouse grow, so too will children impact and deepen your life in meaningful ways.  

ijohnb

July 30th, 2015 at 2:00 PM ^

extent, the "modern"(two income) family structure does make having kids a good deal less practical though.  My wife and I both work full time and we have two kids, one very young.  The modern version of kids is an endless merry-go-round of daycares, baby-sitters, and reliance on family for constant time and support. 

youn2948

July 30th, 2015 at 2:58 PM ^

Except unmarried because I don't 100% get the point of it unless you have children, tax benefits etc.  Would get married if we planned to have kids, just unsure of the cost of throwing a party for our friends.  Neither of us are gung ho about children but more feel societal pressures.  

Perhaps I'm being too cerebral and thinking about it too much but I know that if I am to have children they will be 100% of my focus for at least 14-18 years.  Guess we still have 5-10 years to decide and 40 is the new cutoff not 30 but still.

I'd say first vacation with my gf practically wife, which was pretty much a honeymoon.

bluewings

July 30th, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^

My girlfriend planned to take a weekend trip with friends to this city. I know she dated a guy that lives there so asked if you would be seeing him. She said probably but he is just a friend. My sympathetic nervous system kicked in and I was pissed. She then mumbled I won't go then said "I Love You" there was a moment of silence before I said " I love you too"

mgoblue0970

July 30th, 2015 at 1:39 PM ^

Celebrating my birthday twice in the same year was pretty cool...

A couple of years ago I was in Singapore on business, My birthday was on the 12th of the month.  Took off from SIN on the 12th, layed over in NRT... it's now the 13th.  Leave NRT for LAX and cross the dateline.  Boom, it's the 12th again! 

If I marry my GF and we have a kid, of course that will be new best days ever.

Christicks

July 30th, 2015 at 1:47 PM ^

Mine was my wedding day, although I'll have my first son in 6 weeks, which I'd expect to surpass it.  As someone who has travelled a lot and never really lived near family for very long, having everyone you love in 1 place for an entire day is a magical thing.  Getting into Michigan has to be the next, as it was the culmination of so much hard work.

PS - Best Day threads are way tighter than Worst Day threads!

lilpenny1316

July 30th, 2015 at 1:50 PM ^

My 16th birthday.  We beat OSU 28-0.  My grandmother surprised me by flying a case of he awesome ribs up to Michigan.  Finally, the girl I had the biggest I had the biggest crush on called me to wish me happy birthday.  Was the first time she ever called me.  And we stayed on the phone for hours.

MikeCohodes

July 30th, 2015 at 1:55 PM ^

Aside from the obvious (acceptance to UM, graduation from UM, wedding day, birth of son) highlights of my life, I had a pretty awesome day this past Saturday 7/25, one of the best days in my recent memory.  We were at the Cubs vs Phillies game at Wrigley, and we had some killer seats (10th row behind the Cubs dugout). In the bottom of the 3rd, Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta was at the plate, and on a swing and a miss, let go of the bat on his swing and it flew into the stands. It bounced up the aisle, fortunately not hitting anyone, and came to rest at my feet. They wouldn't let me keep it because the bat wasn't broken (had it been broken it would've been mine) but instead they gave me a signed Arrieta baseball and a game used ball from that game. It turns out the game-used ball is now a part of history, as the Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels threw a no-hitter. So, it was sad to see a Cubs loss, but it was an awesome game to have watched and I got two great souveniers. After the game I had a date night with the wife, so all in all it was an awesome day. My only regret is not DVRing the game, because I was probably on TV when this all went down. The Arrieta ball is now in my autograph collection, right next to my signed by Harbaugh Bears hat.