I sent this link to my daughter, who is raising an 18-month old baby.
I do not agree with the "don't have kids" advice. I have two grown-up kids; no regrets whatsoever. Neither child was planned (yeah, two accidents!) You have to be quite unlucky, I think, to have kids that don't make you happy.
Having said that, there's a good argument that the world is already full-up, that the world is getting worse, and that bringing kids into the world is not a kindness. I'm OK with not having kids for those reasons; and I'm also OK with not having kids because you have better things to do with your time. No judgements, be happy your own way.
Nobody is a good parent; we're all beginners, none of us has ever done it before. It works out; kids can deal with crap parents, otherwise our race would have died out.
BTW, I used to spank my kids when they were naughty. Word of advice: do not do that. Even if it's legal where you live, it is just a way of expressing your anger, it solves no problems. Grown-ups should never beat-up children, not even gently.
Um, dawgs, no thanks. I'm not enthusiastic about hoovering. I'd sooner change nappies (or become a school governor).
Child-rearing only takes about 15 years. It really isn't a river of tears; a lot of it is fun. Children can be a total gas. When it's over, they leave, and chances are you'll be on your own again, with nothing left but photos and memories.
I do not agree with the "don't have kids" advice. I have two grown-up kids; no regrets whatsoever. Neither child was planned (yeah, two accidents!) You have to be quite unlucky, I think, to have kids that don't make you happy.
Having said that, there's a good argument that the world is already full-up, that the world is getting worse, and that bringing kids into the world is not a kindness. I'm OK with not having kids for those reasons; and I'm also OK with not having kids because you have better things to do with your time. No judgements, be happy your own way.
Nobody is a good parent; we're all beginners, none of us has ever done it before. It works out; kids can deal with crap parents, otherwise our race would have died out.
BTW, I used to spank my kids when they were naughty. Word of advice: do not do that. Even if it's legal where you live, it is just a way of expressing your anger, it solves no problems. Grown-ups should never beat-up children, not even gently.
Um, dawgs, no thanks. I'm not enthusiastic about hoovering. I'd sooner change nappies (or become a school governor).
Child-rearing only takes about 15 years. It really isn't a river of tears; a lot of it is fun. Children can be a total gas. When it's over, they leave, and chances are you'll be on your own again, with nothing left but photos and memories.