From the article.

The truth is that most people have kids “automatically”, without much thought. It is not even a “decision” for them.

Studies show us the statistics whether we like them or not. The numbers help making an informed choice. I can bet that most people have kids without the slightest idea of what kind of life changes await them. It is alright if they are fully aware and still goes ahead with their decision. But in all other cases, frustration and resentments ensue, leading to negligent parenting which is very damaging to the society as a whole.

I did not ask to be born. My parents wanted to raise children, so here I am. “If they exercised the choice” – this kind of argument is very common but really holds no power. What would be the necessity of this blog or anything I have done if I was not even born ?

All these articles are not against parents who are doing a great job like you. Rather it is an attempt to request everyone to think hard on all aspects before bringing new humans to this overstressed planet.

I quote from the writeup… “A few generations ago, people weren’t stopping to contemplate whether having a child would make them happy. Having children was simply what you did. And we are lucky, today, to have choices about these matters.” The question is, why are we beginning to examine this new “choice”. Is it really because it’s better for the planet to have less resource-depleting human beings on it? Or could it be selfcenteredness on our part? Hubris? The pursuit of our own happiness/comfort/convenience, above all else?

Once again, I quote from the writeup… “Children may provide unrivaled moments of joy. But they also provide unrivaled moments of frustration, tedium, anxiety, heartbreak. This scene, which isn’t even all that awful or uncommon, makes it perfectly clear why parenting may be regarded as less fun than having dinner with friends or baking a cake. Loving one’s children and loving the act of parenting are not the same thing.”

Re read this para in light of the questions I asked earlier. Yes, travelling across the world or catching a movie with friends can be infinitely more satisfying to us as individuals that the trials and tribulations of “parenting”, in spite of the limitless love we may have for our children as parents. So why do some of us do it? Ever asked yourself that?

I’ve said it before, and I say it again – Parenting is not for everyone, and I don’t mean to imply that being childfree is not an option. But there’s gotta be more to the reason than individual comfort and convenience, don’t you think?!

Every Life has a purpose, even though, at times, it may not be quite apparent to us. And, being a part of nature’s creation process may be the one thing that brings us all closer to Nature herself, and by extension, to God (or whatever life-force you believe in!)

Where would this blog, and you & I, be if our parents had “exercised their choice”?!