Kid Crazy: Why We Exaggerate the Joys of Parenthood (sick article)

Time ^ | March 4, 2011 | John Cloud

[Catphish]

I mostly agree with the author. I find people all the time having children and not realizing what they are getting into. We would be better off if everyone realized what raising a child entails and if they asked themselves if they can fulfill those responsibilities.

[UCANSEE2]

Funny how everyone who is FOR ‘no questions asked’ ABORTIONS, and NOT HAVING ANY CHILDREN AT ALL, have ALREADY BEEN BORN.

[dinoparty]

How many parents, deep deep down, wish that their kids were never born? I think that the answer is ZERO, or close to it. To me, this is irrefutable evidence of the benefits of parenting.

[UCANSEE2]

Maybe the author is right. His parents should never have CONCEIVED him.

[dawn53]

Nothing has brought more joy into my life than my children. There is no sacrifice I would not make for them. Most parents would agree. The author obviously does not have any children.

That's our sentiment exactly. Don't have grandkids yet, but from what my friends tell me...it gets better still once they come along :)

[Troublemaker]

wow, raising children is hard? No kidding...that’s what makes it great.

[techcor]

The world would be a better place if his parents (and all liberal parents) had believed this.

[andy58-in-nh]

I knew it. I just knew the writer was a homosexual.

It was almost my first thought when I read the article. When I looked up his bio, it didn't take too long to confirm.

[Minn]

it's cheaper to hire end-of-life care than to raise a child

And in your last days, I'm sure it is very comforting to know that not a damn person in the world cares about you, and wouldn't do a thing for you, if not for the money.

[samiam1972]

Comparing having children to fixing up an old car that never works is just sick and twisted. I guess I am too far gone to realize how stupid I am to keep having children. /s

By the way, I don’t know what other people are spending on their kids but mine are pretty reasonable to have around.

[MrEdd]

Actually, this article exposes the thinking Required to be part of the current libertarian movement.

If you value life or children more than this, you won't fit in.

This is why the libertarian candidates push abortion.

[darkangel82]

Sounds more “liberal” (and extremely so) not really “libertarian”.

[KansasGirl]

[Getting married in June]

Congratulations, and I hope you enjoy a long lifetime of love and happiness!

[BenLurkin]

bttt

[UCANSEE2]

Wow, well I missed that

No you didn't. I'll take the slam for being redundant, though I felt it had to be said.

[dawn53]

Do you have kids? I would agree that alot of people don’t understand what it entails going in, and I wonder how that can be since they had to know the struggles experienced by their parents during their own upbringing. But the fun, satisfaction, joy, gratification from parenting makes the sacrifices (especially the monetary ones) so worth it, IMO.

[andy58-in-nh]

Raising kids is supposed to be hard. If you're doing it any way close to right, it forces you to grow up, deal with frustration, develop patience, overcome adversity, and draws you closer to your spouse.

[darkangel82]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. :) I won’t have that Time trash in the house either.

[UCANSEE2]

I find people all the time having children getting married and not realizing what they are getting into. We would be better off if everyone realized what raising a child being married entails and if they asked themselves if they can fulfill those responsibilities.

[TN4Liberty]

Wow. I wonder how economists factored in the fact that when people get older, they can look at their kids and have no doubt that they accomplished something meaningful with their lives.