To All Men: Is Being Categorized a Third or Fourth Child Endearing 2U?

Finland
October 24, 2007 11:06am CST
I've heard some women calling their husbands the "third" or "fourth" child (depending on how many kids they have). I have no kids yet, but I know that there are plenty of independent men out there. I know that most of the women who call their husbands that way want the term to be an endearing term, not an insulting one. What I wanna know is the men's opinion on such a term. Are you angry? Do you feel insulted by such a term? Have you heard your wives/spouses call you that way? Or maybe you've heard some women call their spouses that way? What do you feel when you heard such a term?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
25 Oct 07
I don't know how most men feel about it but I do know that I certainly do not mean it as an endearing term. It is meant to be an insult. Here at least when a woman says her husband is like another child, it means that he is behaving childishly and selfishly and not being a partner to her. She is saying that he expects her to take care of him like a mother takes care of her small children. That is not the way a healthy marriage works. The men who are called this should feel ashamed of themselves for behaving in such a way. They should realize that it is time to grow up and be a husband to their wives rather than "another child".
1 person likes this
• Finland
25 Oct 07
Hi, foxyfire! THANKS for sharing. I understand what you mean. :-)))) Yes, a healthy marriage certainly doesn't work that way indeed.
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
25 Oct 07
Maybe I could find it endearing. But listen to me real well Ailema and other women of mylot. If I somehow end up in another relationship and it despite terrible odds actually works out, I'll be significant cooking, cleaning, laundering, doing yardwork, helping with homework and parenting too all while working my 45-55+ hour a week job (plus any consulting work if I'm still doing it). And if I'm doing all of that and still called a big child or third/fourth child or whatever, don't be surprised if I don't take it well at all.
1 person likes this
• Finland
25 Oct 07
Hmmmm...I think I should agree with Transdisc on this one. I KNOW most foreigner men do all those things, too...maybe I should direct the question to Asian guys who've never lived on their own prior to marriage. Anyway, yeah, I understand COMPLETELY that you'd be insulted if your wife says that term even after you'd done your part, programer. It's only natural he he he he... The thing is, in a very typical traditional Asian marriage, the spouse doesn't do all that, except perhaps the yardwork. Oh well... I know some women also sometimes just joke when saying the term, so she doesn't really mean it...THANKS for your answer, programer! ;-D
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
24 Oct 07
Though I'm not yet married nor have a child, I guess that would be "music" to ears!;) I always think of myself as a CHILD trapped inside a man's body, there's always a side of me that is childish. I see this as a positive side of our personality, since we sometimes have to loosen up and relax to think of other things aside from day to day peers.. I would definitely not be mad if ever my spouse would treat or call me as that, as long as she won't literally mean it!;)
• Finland
24 Oct 07
Hi, raijin! OOHHHHH...you always think of yourself as a CHILD? That's GREAT!!!!! ;-D You're SO POSITIVE and SO right about that we have to loosen up sometimes. ;-D THANKS for answering. ;-D Yeah, as long as she doesn't literally mean it, then it's still endearing to you. GOOD for you! ;-D
1 person likes this
@deserve40 (1656)
• India
24 Oct 07
I really do not understand your question. I personally do not feel that there is anything wrong if some one is called third or fourth child.This I feel because I do not think that these words have any other meaning except the numrical value.
• Finland
24 Oct 07
OK, let's say you're a wife and your husband is a very traditional man. He never lives on his own and his parents never taught him how to do household chores 'coz he had lived his entire life with them. He expects his wife to do most household chores, esp. taking care of the kids. Now if you say to your hubby that he's a big child, would he consider that term endearing or insulting?
• China
25 Oct 07
this is silly discussion and i like to involve in this topic....hehehe,i think it differs from individual and their point of understanding,i aint married yet and have no good experince but i loke to read this type of silly discussion as i have mention earlier.....hehehehe
• Finland
25 Oct 07
Hi! THANKS for joining in and having a good laugh he he... Well, I'm interested in listening to everybody's point of view. That's the point I created this discussion.