Eric Roberts reflects on parenting Emma Roberts

[hewontgo]

Eric Roberts says that he 'couldn’t handle being a parent' to Emma Roberts: 'I’m still not a father figure.' https://t.co/4jlgGRbPoG
- Entertainment Weekly (@EW) September 21, 2024
Eric Roberts wrote in his new memoir 'Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far

Comments

[filmstudent23]

I had an ex once who wanted to “become a dad so bad.” We broke up because I didn’t want any kids and he said I was being selfish. Years pass and he and his new girlfriend get pregnant. He lasted 5 months and was out the door saying his gf had changed after the baby was born. No shit, you motherfucker.
I feel validated. The only one being selfish was him trying to fulfill a silly fantasy of becoming a football dad, while I would’ve had to relinquish my body, my peace of mind, my financial freedom, split my soul in order to nourish another being I’m not even sure I would like or care about.
Why on earth would I be compelled to have a baby with someone who doesn’t show me or himself a bit of restraint and commitment? Men are out of their goddamn mind.

[aebbel]

Wow, I’m so glad you didn’t give in! I have so many friends who are unsure about kids and whose partners really want to become fathers, and at the same time whine about splitting household chores etc. What do they think will happen with a baby in the picture?

[merel_93]

They expect the mother to do most of it all, like their own mothers did

[blazingeternity]

It's truly mind-boggling! I have a good friend who was like this, an introvert low-energy nerd to top it off (nothing wrong with that). He didn't want to believe me that his entire life would (have to) change and there'd be no more procrastination, sleeping in, peace & quiet, gaming all-nighters, abundant me-time etc. with a baby. He's a smart guy & I always respected him, but on that topic he was outrageously stupid and arrogant at that. At least he admitted how wrong he was after becoming a father and how he suffers, but at least he is embracing the consequences, living up to his responsibilities and being a great dad & husband. I'm just... HOW could you believe your life & work load would hardly change?? Who betrayed mankind and lied to boys like this?

[insomniachobs]

I think part of the problem is that for the longest time that was actually true - becoming a parent did hardly change a man's life because he wasn't expected to do any caregiving. It's only relatively recently that women have been pushing back on those gender roles and insisting men step up

[blazingeternity]

Definitely, and I think especially in more conservative and wealthy circles. But even in my (and his) parents' generation, men will tell you that having a baby is "rough" because of how sleep-deprived they were and how they were forced to change their daily routines and habits in order to not wake up a baby that finally fell asleep. I should add that we all lived in small spaces where a crying baby or noisy child would wake everyone up, even if it was the mother's responsibility to address the issue. But somehow my friend thought "Oh it can't be that bad! They only cry for a bit when they're hungry, quickly feed them & go back to sleep!" Karma blessed him with a gut issues baby and a conscience that made him split care duties 50:50 xD

[shahrazade_bard]

Thank you for sharing this. I'm childfree, mostly by choice, and mostly I'm content with it, but I have moments when the opinions of others make me doubt, and this comment was SO reassuring to read.

[sandstorm]

GOOD FOR YOU! He just wanted the "easy" parts knowing that labor is outsourced to a woman.

[funhouse]

men want a mini me but dont realise they drop far down priority list in process.

it makes me scared to have kids no matter how much i trust my bf

[anakisa]

they don't even want a mini me bc when their sons grow up and show failings they themselves have, it makes them angry at the kid and themselves - how many dads are their son's bff when you think about it

i see it a lot, unfortunately

[buries]

I will never understand the obsession with "a mini me".

I don't want kids, and a part of that is out of fear of losing my identity/my mental health/being left alone to do all the work because of how dependent children are on you in every aspect of life.