Children

I just read this rubbish article found on theage.com:

http://m.theage.com.au/national/the-women-who-chose-to-go-childfree-and-then-regret-it-20151030-gkmuk5.html

If you havent read it, its about women who have made a life choice for whatever reason not to bear children and that some of them go on to regret this life decision.

Human instinct is to have children. Its how we ensure that we dont become a extinct race.
The great news is that our species wont be extinct anytime soon, not unless we kill the planet we live on or the sun dies out.

Society expects women to have children.
Even though raising children is difficult, expensive and frankly a lot of angst, anger anf frustration caused in the later years.

The first 10 years seem like the peaceful years and thats what everyone likes but then you hit puberty and... well- ask yourself, what were you like to your parents? Was it smooth sailing all the way through? Or were you a complete asshole that only became better as you got a lot older?

When people talk about parenthood and joys of it, they are discussing the joys of children not teenagers or the nightmare of adult children.

Like the article and people in general, they assume that you will miss out when you are old, into you 70s and beyond.

Heres something that people dont realize.
When you are old, your adult children and grandchildren arent going to be spending a lot of time with you. If they do- theres a likelihood its because you are theit babysitter.

Sounding negative? Your kids most likely be working, your grandkids are at school. They would visit some weekends not every weekend: think about sports/music commitments.

And when you are too old, and you cant drive around and you need care, where do you think you'll go? To your childs home? To be natured and taken care of like you did to them when they were little?

Living in Australia, the likelihood is into a home. how often do you think they will visit you? Whatever you think it is, half that amount- if they visit more often- you are lucky.

Personally I volunteer at an aged care facility. Most families visit weekly, but for a few hours at a time, there are some who dont visit at all.

Which then begs the question- if you children and the end result is that you will end up in a nursing home anyway- where you didnt need children to make these decisions as you can make them yourself... whats the point? More so if they become so distant and cold towards you and never visit?

Especially if its only a great 10 years and then it goes downhill from there? You can build just as great relationships with people making friends and better connections, living the life without feeling encumbered.

And articles like this- making people feel bad for making a different choice in life- annoy me because...
Children are not necessarily the answer.