[linda_22003]

Don't believe it, then. I remember the Dear Abby column years ago when she asked her readers "if you had it to do over again, would you have children" and 70% of her responses said "no". Naturally, if it wasn't what you had hoped for, you have a stronger motivation to answer a poll like that, so it's a self-selected group of responses, not a statistically valid one.

I would not say that the parents we know have "profound regrets"; mostly during the years their kids are teenagers they range between frustration and despair, but it gets better when the kids go off to college. :)

[Antoninus]

Naturally, if it wasn't what you had hoped for, you have a stronger motivation to answer a poll like that, so it's a self-selected group of responses, not a statistically valid one.

Uh, first of all, it's a poll of "Dear Abby" readers who were actually motivated enough to respond. That is the ultimate self-selected group. I knew at age 14 that Dear Abby was generally giving people pop-psych horrible advice, especially on relationships. Thus, this result is not surprising.

Take the same poll of Dr. Laura listeners and see what you get...