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I never understood this war between people with children and those without children. I know some people are upset that they have to pay for schooling for children, but other than that I don't understand the resentment on both sides. I will say that it's hard for a person without children to really appreciate what it's like to have children. I know that I would rather have my child in my life than not, even though I have had to give up a few things. I also think people sometimes have children when they aren't ready, which might explain the results of this study. You need to be ready financially, emotionally, physically and mentally, and you need to be ready for the possibility of a special needs child.
I never understood this war between people with children and those without children. I know some people are upset that they have to pay for schooling for children, but other than that I don't understand the resentment on both sides. I will say that it's hard for a person without children to really appreciate what it's like to have children. I know that I would rather have my child in my life than not, even though I have had to give up a few things. I also think people sometimes have children when they aren't ready, which might explain the results of this study. You need to be ready financially, emotionally, physically and mentally, and you need to be ready for the possibility of a special needs child.
The war originates from the accusations and negative characteristics that have been assigned to the childless over the years by parents. I have also noted that the culture of entitlement on the part of some parents also annoys the childless. The example I used from the workplace is a good one - The assumption in the workplace that the childless should pick up the slack for parents when they feel they must leave work to care for the kids or the sense of entitlement to more time off during holidays.
Yes, you do have a better sense to know what it is like to have children. You also have less sense of what it is like to not have children and to not want to have children. This is the root of much of the conflict that I mentioned in the first sentence.
I think the evidence is pretty cut and dry. Kids won't make you happy. In fact, your probably going to be a little more "unhappy" on average if you have kids.
I wasn't at all surprised by the World Happiness Report published by The Earth Institute of Columbia University answers the question, 'Do children make their parents happy?'
Well, you can't measure yourself. Your level of happiness must be applied to the general social/economic level of happiness of a childless person at same salary/etc.
With that being said. . . and the fact I don't have as much money, I don't get to play games as much, don't get to travel to europe as much, and all those negatives that generally make me less happy - on average - than before
I couldn't imagine not having the little guy.
Maybe average happiness is less
but you really can't beat a 3 year old yelling "daddy BIG HUG" and coming at you.
so maybe i'm less happy overall
but I wouldn't trade the Big Hug for the world.
It all depends on what makes you happy. The people I love in my life are a biggest factor for me--you can have a ton of stuff, and travel nonstop, and be a very lonely, unhappy person. My family and friends make me happy.
It all depends on what makes you happy. The people I love in my life are a biggest factor for me--you can have a ton of stuff, and travel nonstop, and be a very lonely, unhappy person. My family and friends make me happy.
Yep, and you touched on one of the reasons so many parents, particularly single women, are unhappy: They had children to cure their sadness or loneliness.
The war originates from the accusations and negative characteristics that have been assigned to the childless over the years by parents. I have also noted that the culture of entitlement on the part of some parents also annoys the childless. The example I used from the workplace is a good one - The assumption in the workplace that the childless should pick up the slack for parents when they feel they must leave work to care for the kids or the sense of entitlement to more time off during holidays.
Yes, you do have a better sense to know what it is like to have children. You also have less sense of what it is like to not have children and to not want to have children. This is the root of much of the conflict that I mentioned in the first sentence.
Before I had my child I never had any type of resentment towards people with kids. There are, of course, those people who use their child as an excuse to not work, but I think that's an exception to the rule. I often volunteered to work certain holidays like christmas because I knew people wanted to be home with their kids and hoped someone would do the same for me one day (plus I got time and a half or it).
They wouldn't make me happy. However, I think statistics as such are a bunch of bunk, even though I tend to agree childed families often seem to me quite miserable.
It all depends on what makes you happy. The people I love in my life are a biggest factor for me--you can have a ton of stuff, and travel nonstop, and be a very lonely, unhappy person. My family and friends make me happy.
You can't love people if you don't have children?
Breeding makes you special?
You make big assumptions about the childfree. Why would assume we're lonely and unhappy?
What a bizarre presumption.
You can't love people if you don't have children?
Breeding makes you special?
You make big assumptions about the childfree. Why would assume we're lonely and unhappy?
What a bizarre presumption.
Mostly because if he/she accepted that most childless couples are happier than couples with children, it would cause him/her to confront some uncomfortable questions.
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