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.
Some women are alright
I left the VFW tonight and one said “Hey where you going?” as she extended a hug
AIl said in the embrace was “away from you, but I’ll be back”
Exactly. I’m 33, and have just dug myself out of student loan debt. It will take me another five years before I could afford a house that would accommodate a family. With post-2008 economic insecurity, skyrocketing university tutition and indadequate housing supply, having kids is a very foolish idea for money.
LOL...and I thought I had an imagination...: )
You have about 30 years to get on your good foot.
Dont wanna be 65 and alone
I just lost my dog, I miss, my child and family more
All women are evil.
All children are evil.
Carry on.
It has become an iron rule of demographics that no country has overcome. Worldwide population is predicted to plateau around 2050 and sometime after will begin an inexorable decline.
The trend began long before the widespread availability of birth control or the sexual revolution. My own opinion is that the trend began and is driven by the fact that in an urban society women postpone marriage and child bearing for longer and longer periods and sometimes never have children. Children are an economic liability in an urban society versus an economic asset in a rural society.
Nothing has been able to alter the trend, not payments or tax breaks for having children, exhortation, appeals to patriotism or religion, nothing. During WWII, Germany was so desperate for manpower that Himmler appealed to the girls of Nazi Germany to have sons out of wedlock for the fatherland and offered to make available to them handsome, virile SS men. Few takers.
To you maybe. That bumper sticker says a lot more than that. It explains a whole lot about this generation.
That is what i believe as well.
I honestly think if people dont want kids, they should not have them. The kids, and society, suffer from all the parents who half ass it or are never even there, already. I admire parents who do a good job because it’s tough to be a good parent. It takes a lot of work and dedication and consistency. If you cant do that, cripes, dont have kids. You cant just chuck it after a few years as a fad you no longer are interested in.
Being a terrible parent is not,a predictor of being a terrible pet owner.
Much harder to be a good parent and raise a good person. Having pets still teaches people about responsibility, taking care of a living thing, being dependable, and being able to grow in compassion and love.
Lots of kids may not have pets as kids, and generally dont have pets at college. Being this can help prep them for their kids in the future, i can see why some as adults get pets and are maybe 10-15 years behind other folks having children.
It is also selfish to have children so as to have “people to take care of you” when you are old. If its a mindset of what can i get out of having kids, how am i going to benefit, those are not the right motives, either.
You can. Adopt.
God adopts us through Christ. We are all adopted children of God.
Conservative families should aim for at least 4 kids with the support of the grandparents.
>> a growing number are choosing dogs and cats over children.
Good riddance to their pathetic DNA.
There's your problem right there: Wrong mindset.
Regards,
That’s fine by me. I don’t want snowflakes to breed.
Ever.
I was aghast.
Regards,
“Himmler appealed to the girls of Nazi Germany to have sons out of wedlock for the fatherland and offered to make available to them handsome, virile SS men. Few takers.”
Wrong. “SS-Lebensborn” was huge. Google it.
It could also be that they are barren.
Not everyone is fertile.
I don’t ‘party’, ever.
I have more love to give than I know what to do with.
Miscarriages suck.
The emptiness they cause will swallow you whole unless you fill it with something.
People should think about other peoples’ lives might be like before they shoot off their mouths.
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