40 reasons not to have children

[DAvid]

A comment from a friend & Public Health Nurse many years ago ran something like this: "Those who would make the best parents are often the ones choosing not to have kids...."

Raising kids takes lots of effort. Unfortunately in today's society, it seems families need two incomes to survive, so parents do the equivalent of working two+ jobs. We have also seen a major change in family relationships. Historically, the child's grandparents socialized and educated the child, while the parents brought home the bacon. With our nuclear, rather than inclusive families, the grandparents are more distant, and are usually less involved in child rearing. Much to our disadvantage as a society, in my opinion.

[lb71]

My daughter is now 15 months old. I have had to deal with sleepless nights, getting peed on, trips to the emergency room, fights with my wife, booked weekends because people had to "see the baby!", I don't have much of a social life, sex is by appointment only, I'm constantly tripping on toys, we are low on cash flow and live paycheque to paycheque, vacation days are used for baby sitting, a night out to the movies is a big deal and planned a month in advance, house chores get unattended, and by 9pm I am passed out on the couch. And I've never been happier.

[FrugalTrader]

Originally Posted by lb71

...And I've never been happier.

+1

[Rickson9]

If somebody is already happy without children I can understand the rational not to have them.

[CanadianCapitalist]

Canadian Financial DIY wrote a post about this:

Disturbing Views of Children at Maclean's

It is also discouraging because on a societal level, the promotion of an anti-having children mindset will exacerbate the problems of increasing longevity and a birth rate in Canada that is far below population replacement levels. If too many decide not to have kids, then eventually there won't be enough people to do the work, or alternately, work will shrink to fit. That will put pressure on taxes, government spending programs, economic growth, investment values, pensions as the pitter-patter of little feet gives way to the shuffle of walkers.

[lb71]

I do not dispute that people without children are happy. In fact, they are to be commended. The worst thing that could happen is for people who do not want kids, or are not ready for them, is to have them.

For the most part, the reasons given on those 'why not to have kids lists' are true. But the missing piece is the baby. That baby is worth so much more for people that unless you have one yourself, you just cannot comprehend.

[Rickson9]

Originally Posted by lb71

That baby is worth so much more for people that unless you have one yourself, you just cannot comprehend.

I admire anybody that has children and respect the desire to have them.

However, for myself, I can say that I find it unlikely that having a child would provide any additional benefits - emotional or otherwise. Of course the argument will always be that I'll never know until I have them. But after speaking to many parents I haven't heard anything that I wouldn't understand.

Again, I believe that having children is a noble calling and I strongly admire and support those who decide to have them.

[lb71]

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/b...have-kids.aspx

[michika]

And another one from the National Post.

http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/...tml?id=1925898

[Rickson9]

Originally Posted by michika

And another one from the National Post.

http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/...tml?id=1925898

I found the comments to the article interesting. I posted the article on my FB page and found that the ones who passed judgement were those who have children.

I guess that having children doesn't make one more 'understanding' or 'compassionate' (supposedly the benefits of having children).