8 Comments
User's avatar
Stephen Carter's avatar

We need children so we can re-learn trust, innocence, delight.

We need children so we can provide answers to endless questions, answers that are funny, serious, playful.

It's another grim sign of decline that we can't see how dismal/deadening our rejection of family is.

Expand full comment
M Le Baron's avatar

As a dedicated parent and Grandmother, I get a second chance to experience the laughter, wonder and imagination that kids ooze naturally. It is so wonderful, there is nothing like it in the world. In essence I get to act and play like a child while providing guidance and love.

You are absolutely right about children — if you do it right, the focus is not yourself, but the children. Parenting teaches selflessness, humility and gratitude. It also teaches negotiating, peace keeping as well as self control. All these skills build to create your grownup self.

We definitely need more people willing to raise children to the best of their abilities.

Thank you for a true and hilarious post. I can absolutely relate to your sentiments about the stomach flu. God made kids adorable so no refuse is necessary.

Expand full comment
Christopher Messina's avatar

All true except for the insane assertion that children are "cheap" to run.

Where? Haiti, where you hand your five-year-old a machete and tell him to survive to next year?

Expand full comment
Joseph Hex's avatar

Honestly that's not a bad idea. The kid would come back from that year, if they came back, a new, tougher person.

I agree kids aren't cheap, but I think for many they could be cheaper. Figuring out alternative means for medical care and education (Especially college) drastically reduces the price. Then shop for bulk food, cook at home, buy secondhand clothes, etc, and the price comes down further.

Expand full comment
Christopher Cook's avatar

A beautiful post!

(With a few amusing double entendres thrown in.)

Expand full comment
Christopher Cook's avatar

"Pro-Natalism is great, but I'm not sure the theory will survive into practice. Having children is very difficult, and I'm not sure doing it for any other reason than a love and desire for children will get a parent through the hard times."

—There is truth to this. So far, countries that have tried to use economic incentives to raise their birth rates have met with very little success.

Expand full comment
Joseph Hex's avatar

It's a puzzle governments have never solved. Typical for the State, they don't pay attention to the easier method of removing economic dis-incentives like high taxes and inflation.

Expand full comment
Christopher Cook's avatar

Yeah, excellent point! Why not start by just getting out of the way?!

Expand full comment