Does having children make you miserable?

beatlesfan3333

I was reading an earlier post from a guy who feels like he is drowning. He has a baby and feels he is living hand to mouth.

I don't have children and would be interested in people's honest opinions on having them. This is aimed at parents, people who have children.
Is it actually worth it? Do they make you happy and fulfill you?

Any parents I've known seem miserable. They won't admit it of course but if you look closely, they seem to have lost what was once so enjoyable in life, i.e. freedom, money, their own personal space.

I'd be interested in getting people's perspectives on having children. Be honest please. No judgement. Do you regret having a child a little bit? Or has it made you immensely happy?

anncoates

beatlesfan3333 wrote: »

Any parents I've known seem miserable. They won't admit it of course but if you look closely, they seem to have lost what was once so enjoyable in life, i.e. freedom, money, their own personal space.

Slight projection maybe?

beatlesfan3333

No I don't have any kids I'm getting to that age though where people expect you to maybe start having them in the next 5-10 years and I'm contemplating the whole thing. I see people my age around me who seem so miserable but don't want to admit it. The point of this post is to spark a healthy discussion about it all and possibly give an outlet for parents who feel they can't admit that they're not happy...

kunst nugget

beatlesfan3333 wrote: »

No I don't have any kids I'm getting to that age though where people expect you to maybe start having them in the next 5-10 years and I'm contemplating the whole thing. I see people my age around me who seem so miserable but don't want to admit it. The point of this post is to spark a healthy discussion about it all and possibly give an outlet for parents who feel they can't admit that they're not happy...

Tbf, that's not really the point of Personal Issues.

anncoates

beatlesfan3333 wrote: »

The point of this post is to spark a healthy discussion about it all and possibly give an outlet for parents who feel they can't admit that they're not happy...

Sounds like you want people to simply validate your belief that all parents have miserable lives.

Maybe some do, I dunno.

The arguments about kids and non kids always seem pointless to me. Obviously a certain number of people need to have children to propagate the species but thankfully people that don't want to can opt out too. Neither category of people are likely to really fathom the experience and preference of the other, and neither should they have to, really.

beatlesfan3333

I suppose I was just wondering if parents out there are happy really. I've read articles in magazines and newspapers where mothers and fathers admit they aren't feeling as elated as they should but feel its a tabbo topic to discuss. Perhaps personal issues isn't the right venue to start such a discussion. I was just curious whether being a parent is as fantastic as people say it is. Ill try close the thread anyway, its not getting the reaction I thought it would

BoJack Horseman

As a new-ish parent, I'm supposed to feel overjoyed.

Tbh, we are not overjoyed by it at all.

Maybe its a mother thing, but I would have been happy going through life never being father.... But sh*t happens.

meeeeh

It is a serious existential question that points to a very inquisitive mind of a teenager with a tendency for philosophical questions that make him out as being provocative.

Or might be just a troll who is not overly happy that the thread in AH died.

Taltos

Not a PI - thread closed.

OP - please read our charter and get used to the types of threads here. PI isn't a discussion forum, it is dedicated to helping people with real life personal issues. For debates or discussions please try elsewhere.

Cheers
Taltos