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Totally agree! I am so thankful that I chose to not have kids and have instead in my life, had a horse, countless chickens, geese, birds, and 18 dogs. Life has been very good.
I have a kid and two dogs. They don't all fit in the crate together.
My own opinion as to possible reasons are the over-population of the world and the increasing social acceptance of childlessness by choice. Let's not forget that medical science gave us the ability reliably to choose not to have children only with the advent of the birth control pill about 50 years ago. Fifty years may seem like a long time, but in terms of the evolution of social paradigm changes it's not so long.
Several "paradigm changes" are converging. One is birth control. Another is the greater acceptance in most advanced societies of secular views (active religiosity correlates strongly with propensity to reproduce). A third is environmental concerns. A fourth is the breakdown of inter-generational bonds, were the grandparents perform child-care duties an in exchange the middle generation tends to the elders in the latter's declining years. And I agree that these changes are incredibly rapid not merely in terms of biological evolution, but even the cultural evolution of societies (which takes centuries).
Economic concerns are not unique to any age. I wonder how people worried about being unable to afford having kids back in the 1930s; or during any prior time of economic upheaval, war, famine, plague, or any other calamity that befalls societies from time to time. By this reasoning, it is possible that in another 100 years we'll look back on the period from the late 19th century to the early 20th century as the great baby-bust. It is possible that in a future time of genetic engineering and new medical wonders, of child-care provided by robots and so forth, of "lebensraum" on other planets, that humanity will rediscover its penchant to reproduce, and the birth rate resume its historical trends.
That said, personally I welcome a declining birth rate and an eventually declining human population. So many of our problems stem from the sheer fact of there being numerically so many of us.
A fourth is the breakdown of inter-generational bonds, were the grandparents perform child-care duties an in exchange the middle generation tends to the elders in the latter's declining years.
I think this is a huge one! We're now like little helpless satellites, circling around, marrying here, divorcing there, hooking up here, blending families, unblending them again, and then floating some more to find somewhere else to land.
I can't say my pets are better than my children but I had pets before and after my child raising days and they do hit some of the same buttons. Not all, obviously. The need to be needed, giving you a purpose, giving/getting love (even if it's not the same kind of love), etc. I find that just having something alive in my house makes things better. When my kids were young and in school, and I was home along for hours, I even appreciated the goldfish we had.
My wife and I adopted a child in our 30s, me in my late 30s. I'm sure the Pope would rather we have had our own child (and plenty of them) because his book says to do so, but I'd rather not be multiplying and intentionally bringing children into this world who will be competing with more people for fewer resources and means to obtain them.
I do notice folks without kids tend to substitute them with animals, but as long as they're not going the breeding route, I fail to see how that's anything but good.
With the overpopulation of the world, especially in 3rd world countries, I consider it a blessing that some people are choosing animals over children. The pope is encouraging people who may not have the resources to successfully raise children to have them regardless. Very irresponsible IMO.
Often that's what Catholic's do. I used to be one now I could care less what the Pope has to say regarding any subject. I dismiss any opinion he has on anything as he means nothing to me.
I'm in favor of adoption for both children and pets.
I call my little yorkie, Lucy, my 'child substitute'. I got her when my son was entering high school and quickly leaving Mom behind. We both joke about it.
Let me just say this - dogs are cheaper. I can put them in a kennel and go away for a long week-end. I don't have to prepare elaborate meals for them; they don't change the radio station when riding in the car OR roll their eyes when I speak. I don't have to save $100,000 for their college education.
I think the child paradigm is changing. It very well be that not having kids becomes the new normal. The world has become a place with a very uncertain future. Global warming, terrorism, school shootings, drugs , crime and the economy all weigh on peoples minds. It's hard to imagine the world being a better place in the years to come. Bringing kids into this world feels like dropping your loved ones off in a bad neighborhood.
Dogs won't outlive most of us. We'll be around to make sure they're cared for and safe. Kids, not so much.
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