If  BluDrakecon & I were to spawn for some ungodly reason...because the majority of my friends are in the fandom, and I intend to continue staffing at various cons, I wouldn't hide it from them by any means (beyond age appropriate stuff) but I wouldn't tell my 4 year old "okay you're a little wuff". Honestly, I wouldn't even take a kid to a con unless they asked. When they're like 12. IF I had kids, they'd have an Auntie Dodger & an Uncle Roxas, and I'm sure that would have my family just rolling but that's the way it is.

I plan to raise my child on the GOOD furry cartoons of the 80s and 90s, and on Dr. Who

I know my children will likely see the art that I do at some point and I don't plan on hiding it from them as a whole. Especially since I imagine art and a smaller part of furry will be involved in my life until I am an old lady. Including fursuits, and (hiding) adult oriented commissions. I won't encourage or discourage them to be part of the community as they grow older. The best thing I think would be letting them have a more direct choice as I did. Letting them know why I and their family members enjoy it and probably play it off more as a hobby and source of income with the bonus of good times and community.

I don't plan on taking my children to conventions except maybe if they are really little and I need to care for them while I put stuff up in an art show or what not or want to do other art related business. My mates or I can keep them entertained in the less wild areas. Overall, they probably won't go with me to conventions unless they specifically ask if they can go. Most likely though family would be asked to look after them so I can still enjoy one of my hobbies when possible without worrying about them.

If they want to pick a sona, or what not once they understand it, it will be up to them. If they want to fursuit.... eh probably not until they are teenagers unless they are going with me and I am their handler. :p (that sounds silly as heck) I'll probably take them to conventions for stuff they like. If they don't like anime, or star trek or whatever, then I guess they won't do that. It will be up to the individual child I guess.

Honestly, Just like with most things, I don't find any reason to not just have it be part of the world they grow up in. I mean, when I was growing up, I was subjected to a lot of the things my mother liked and loved, particularly music and crafts. So I enjoy the music she listened to, I enjoy doing crafts.

I can't say what would happen if she tried to hide a world like that from me honestly.

I would probably do what I do, and continue doing it, just with the addition to the family, and not really mind too much. Granted, I would try to hide any adult material (But kids are rambunctious, I just need to try to stay one step ahead). If you go to conventions, when they are of age, bring them along. Don't dress them up or anything unless they wish to be, and just let them see for themselves. IF THEY decide that they don't want to be part of that world, don't force it on them.

The short answer is No. The long answer is No.

This is a subculture with a sexualized lean to it. Arguable, but that's how I see it. Even disregarding such a summary, the people behind the masks are heavily flawed, if anyone's spent any time at a con and taken to it with the discerning eye of an average person, an 'outsider'. There are not a great deal of examples of success to be found, just a lot of weirdness. Not the sort of thing I'd want my kids involved in or looking up to anyone related to.

If they bring it upon themselves, they get the benefit of being creeped out by the porn of my character when they realize pops is some kind of a furfag.

This is pretty much how I feel. I see kids at conventions and it's just weird to me.

For the love of God, no D:

First, I don't think the world needs more kids. If I even get to partake in the horrible experience of parenthood it will be via adoption and in such case I won't expose them to furdom in the hopes of making my kids the living image of papa. I won't be calling them "my cubs" or something silly in front of them. If they want to become one sort of species or the other and play pretend like we do, well that's their decision, not mine. No fursuits or conventions unless they are grown teenagers and I supervise. And heck, no yiff for them in my watch until they are legal D:<

You and Spixy are furry artists. Sooner or later, any hypothetical cubs are going to see the artwork and might take an interest in it. Might as well go with the flow at that point. Expose them to some of the better quality furry cartoons and safe/tame artwork. If they take an interest, bring them in.

Got the link for this over on Inkbunny, and thought I should chime in my idea.

Personally I don't believe in furry parenting, there are parents who happen to be furries, but no specific style attributed to us.
I am close to several of my nieces and nephews, and they know their Uncle dresses up like an animal sometimes, they don't know about the fandom or anything about furries, to them it's just me playing pretend.
That kind of thought is good enough for young children, and when they get older if they choose to learn more about it, then sure you can fill them in and let them decide if it something they wish to pursue.

I'd have to be open about it. how else would I explain the zilla suit and other cosplay stuff my girlfriend and I have.

I think in this posting is a good guide hidden
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/i.....8161010AAumYjt
how to not do it


ok, seriously:

The answer will be differently depending on how you see furry and how you contribute. Fursuiters probably will at some point try to figure out how the child reacts to the fursuit and try introduce this big animal plush (sorry if I offended someone) as a friend. Of course their kids will get a stronger connection to the fandom (or character) then e.g. kids of a musican - especially if some other suiting friends come over for a birthday party.
However you'll be über awkward once your child hits puberty.

It will be hard hiding the fandom once the child gets curious why you and some of your friends have those costumes.

If the only visible connection to the fandom is art it's easier to cover it as "I just like cartoon animals. That's why you got to watch the good old cartoons instead of the new crap" (Think about good stories for your character to tell for bedtime )
If you draw yourself it's another story again explaining why you draw so many different chars.

If I ever had children... which can't ever actually happen now, truth be told... but if I did, I wouldn't plan to raise them "as" anything... I would continue to be myself, in all the ways I am, and I would educate and enlighten about who what and how I was, but also that it is all personal and relative. this wouldn't be specifically about being furry, but it would be apart of a general upbringing that attempted to promote understanding first and foremost, and that each individual, themself included, would find their own preferences in their own time, and that that's fine.

I think it would be best to expose them to the fandom and show them the positive side of it. As opposed to them learning about it from mainstream media where they might get the idea that being a furry is wrong, which would likely lead to alienation from their parents and possibly create other problems. The parents shouldn't do anything of their own accord beyond educating their child/children unless asked by their children. But one should wait until they feel their child is mature and educated enough to make a proper decision. This is a very good question though so I'm glad you brought it up. I hadn't really thought about it all that much.

I am going to raise my children as if they were dogs. Then I will eat them as I do with most dogs.

Reading everyone else's answers made me get a better thought on the idea. But I would just be honest with them. Its true the fandom has an extremely sexual side to it that would possibly make people lose control of their stomachs. But this is where I agree with everyone above where I would only try to keep that side out of their view until they were old enough to understand it. To be honest, the thought of calling kids "cubs" and other such terms is kinda silly and yet fun. Thats just me personally, but I'm sure others feel the same way. Let the kids grow up however they want. If they take a liking to the fandom, then explain it to them and show them a few things (preferably the tame stuff). Who knows? You could end up having a big furry family x) Oh god, sounds like a reality show in the making.