Posted on 05/08/2008 2:13:15 PM PDT by Constitutionalist Conservative
MARRIAGE is a constant source of joy, but introducing children into the relationship will send your happiness in a downward spiral, a conference has been told.
[...]
The more kids you had, the sadder you were likely to be, [Harvard psychology professor Daniel] Gilbert said.
US and European studies had shown that people's happiness did spike while they were expecting a baby but sharply plummeted after the child was born.
The low point came when children reached the ages of 12-16, and recovered only when they had flown the coop, he said.
"In reality ... children do seem to increase happiness as long as you're expecting them, but as soon as you have them, trouble sets in," he said.
"People are extremely happy before they have children and then their happiness goes down, and it takes another big hit when kids reach adolescence.
"When does it come back to it's original baseline? Oh, about the time the children grow up and go away."
[...skipping silly comparison of kids with Armani socks...]
"The psychologists tell us that we like things more when we pay for them - what does that sound like? It sounds like children. We pay for them in time, attention, blood, sweat and tears - what kind of idiots would we be to devote all of that to the rearing of our young if they'd didn't bring us some happiness?"
The fact that parenthood crowded out all other things in life could explain why we considered children our greatest source of joy, he said.
"Parents tell me all the time that: `My child is my greatest source of joy'," he said.
"My reply is that: `Yes, when you have one source of joy, it's bound to be your greatest'."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Our only regret is that now we only have two children. I know the two remaining kids mourn every day, and always will.
I still wouldn't have traded it for anything, though. Breeders rule!!!!
Another compelling scientific reason to murder our unborn. (heavy sarcasm)
I guess all my life I've been around the wrong people. People who love their children and wouldn't want a life without children. People whose children brought them great joy and happiness. As someone who only has step children, they have brought me joy and happiness.
If they have friends, family, and they’re happy, why feel sorry for them?
The oldest child in my family was 18 when I was born and I have a younger sister who is about 17 months younger than I. People would argue with my mom that we were not her children but her grandchildren! People!
This is really making me look forward to the next few years. I have 13 year old and 11 year old twins.
My son will have 3 teenage girls at the same time:’) I enjoyed most of the teenage times too though. That’s not to say that there weren’t days that I thought about opening the door and telling them to go. It’s like they were either on top of the mountain or down in the valley and their fuse was extremely short..
I was the oldest of 5 girls. Stair steps. I spaced mine 4 years apart so they wouldn’t be so close and fight. Right...The oldest and the youngest fought or ganged up on the sandwich child. Mommmmmmmmm!!!!
BINGO - and it's why narcissistic liberals have fewer children. They're always in search of their inner child and don't need competition from a real child... Sad.
Hey prof Sherlock, it is not the place of your children to make you happy.
Herr professor seems to be an advocate of the zero population fantasy that has been lectured to us by the academic elites since the 70’s. Of course they fail to understand that Western civilization will be buried under a flood of human beings (Africans, Mexicans, Mid-Easterners) that didn’t get the memo. Europeans will disappear within a generation because of this attitude. Children are work, but so what, raising them is wonderful for anyone that is willing to put their heart into it.
dumbass doesn't know the difference tween stress and real unhappyness
Because their life has become centered around everyone else’s problems. The one couple only talk about their rich friend and his marital woes.
What does that have to do with the fact they they don’t have children?
When I’m in a mall all the parents of anything old enough to walk seem like depressed zombies.
Obama seems to attract lots of airheads to his side.
Don't. I can assure you we are not "seemingly happy." It is more akin to "wild, giggling bliss."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.