Posted on 02/20/2017 7:32:15 PM PST by Morgana
According to government statistics, an increasing number of women from the millennial generation are opting out when it comes to having babies. Instead, it appears they’re finding an alternative more to their liking.
Why the trend for young couples becoming “child-free”? And what have they found to fill the void?
There’s an important distinction to be made between a “childless” couple that has no control whether or not they hear the pitter patter of little feet in their home, versus others who refer to themselves “child-free.” The latter is an intentional lifestyle choice not to have children.
There is a trend today of young adults making the choice to go child-free, substituting bottles and diapers with leashes, pet food and pooper scoopers. Yes, a growing number are choosing dogs and cats over children.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and reported by Quartz, document this is more than just a casual observation. CDC numbers show there has been a considerable decline of babies born to women between the ages of 15 and 29. It is paired with an enormous increase in ownership of small dogs among millennial women.
Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University said, “Pets are becoming a replacement for children.” Her research on the “the entitlement generation” has been published in a book called Generation Me.
Professor Twenge isn’t the only expert providing evidence of “puppy parenthood.” Nathan Richter with Wakefield Research explains that first-time parents prepare for their impending bundle of joy by reading books and consuming other available research. “That’s how millennials are approaching pet ownership,” he says.
Many Americans have made parenting a central focus and mission of their lives, so naturally they struggle with understanding the motivation behind willingly passing up one of life’s greatest blessings.
Sadly, a bulk of the evidence points to the narcissistic reputation of the millennial generation.
Thirty-year-old Sara Foster told the New York Post, “It’s just less work and, honestly, I have more time to go out.”
Kristen Wile, senior editor of Charlotte Magazine, penned her journey from wanting to be a stay-at-home mom by the time she was 30 to now choosing pets over babies. “They give us a greater purpose without making our lives mainly about theirs.” I was stunned by her self-centered transparency.
“Who needs children when research has shown that certain hormones that increase when we cuddle children also increase when we cuddle our pets,” read an online post on Pet Health & Safety.
Evidence of this growing trend is popping up in American society. The multiple Lucky Dog Bark & Brew locations in North Carolina provide not only a bar but also animal boarding, complete with a play area for large and small dogs. What aren’t allowed? Children.
Writing for creators.com, Dennis Prager believes that throughout civilization there had been three social realities driving the birth of children: a lack of contraception, the economic necessity for children to care for parents in old age, and religion. Prager points out that contraception has changed the way couples approach the act of sex; plus government entities like social security and welfare now care for senior citizens so children don’t have to. Finally, religion is a shadow of what it has been in the past – the one propelling force behind the values demanding children.
Couples should not feel forced or compelled to have children by those around them, just as parents with large families should be spared snide or biting remarks.
Perhaps those who have experienced the joys and blessings of children can by example, demonstrate reasons why young couples should carefully consider all their options. Just as animal lovers might show families without pets that shedding coats, marred wood floors and little piles dotting the back yard are small prices to pay for the joy animals bring.
Not really.
Islam will be GONE.
Thank-you for the PING! =^··^= :)
Thank-you for the PING!
If they would make terrible parents, they’d be terrible pet owners die the most part.
My boys are single, 1 has cats, 1 a lab puppy. And they are very well taken care of. Youngest 44 daughter is not married, has no intentions to, owns her own IT business, has a pampered dog.
We are seniors, don’t get to see the grands much, and have 2 dogs, 1 is 17, blind, hard of hearing, and has arthritis. 1 is 3 full of energy at 10 lbs. They are our babies and are treated as such. All our kids have pets, as do the great grands.
While Muslim families have 8 children per family.
And they will all be Muslims, under threat from the 8 children per Muslim family.
Ingenius lol!
Be careful! Do background checks.
Concur. Grandson and his wife have a similar situation.
Have you ever noticed that people who know what’s best for you in terms of making your life decisions for you sound disturbingly like those irritating liberals who know what’s best for you and are much more capable of making your life decisions for you?
FReeRider PING
“And they will all be Muslims, under threat from the 8 children per Muslim family.”
and how many of those children will be blown up, carry the bomb vest or be a victim of an “honor killing”? Remember we are talking Islam here, the religion of death.
A few observations...
1. Even before reading this article, I have noticed that it has become some right of passage for every millennial to get a dog.
2. Ironic that millennials choose a pet over a baby due to economics. Yes, pets are cheaper than children—but pets these days are very expensive—no one seems to take a mixed-breed pup from the neighbor’s litter down the street or out on the farm, etc., so there is the initial outlay of several hundred dollars for the popular breeds. Municipalities require registration and proof of medical care/shots.
3. Our town has a Vet hospital that has every specialty available to humans. It is a wonderful facility~I have used it for 2 dogs. However, I suspect it is becoming increasingly more difficult to put down a pet when that pet (who has become a child-replacement) can receive care for any ailment—allergies, dermatology, oncology, orthopedic, etc. The Vet hospital has financing plans to pay for all the options.
4. It was pointed out on this thread that millennials won’t have anyone to take care of them when they are old and grey. Though it is certainly not a reason to have children, I would like to think it might be an expectation that family takes care of family as needed and able. I know I am painting with a broad brush and there are many responsible millennials, however, I am not holding my breath because from what I have seen, millennials as an aggregate group are the most self-centered demographic ever labeled. Sadly, I believe their parents, the baby-boomers?, have played a part though again, I am painting with a broad brush...
5. It will be interesting to see how the whole “pet substitute for a child” scenario plays out when the puppies purchased by millenials today are old and grey—will millenials make the sacrifices necessary to take care of their dog-child? —old dogs are not carefree~they require considerable patience and assistance; that assistance can be expensive as noted with advent of every type of specialty available.
6. When waiting in vet’s office with my dog, I found other parents who had also inherited their children’s dogs...
It will be interesting to watch the millenials progress through life stages. I wish them the best but worry whether they are prepared.
We are so blessed.
There’s a “we”, but what’s the point of having kids if both parents work so you hand them off to a nanny?
Sorry, but your first posting used only the personal pronoun "I," which - as I observed - was indicative of the wrong mindset to begin with.
Your second posting acknowledges a "we," but still could hardly be vaguer, as though you were trying to skirt the issue / avoid facing the facts.
To get back to your statement that you (singular) wouldn't be able to afford a family-sized house for another five years: That's no reason to postpone having a child right now anyway.
Have a child, and extra space will suddenly appear as if by magic. (Namely: Old junk currently occupying your guest room will be disposed of, your computer room will be repurposed as a nursery, etc.)
Have a child, and, believe it or not, you and your spouse won't be standing in the streets with a cup of pencils.
Conversely: Wait until everything is "perfect" to have a child, and you will probably end up adopting a half dozen dogs and cats as substitute love-objects.
Regards,
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