On the benefits of having children

April 11, 2008

Back when I didn’t have a kid I used to resent people who’d tell me that someday I would want kids. Or would tell me that having children was the greatest experience ever. And they were right about the first and they were right about the second, but that still doesn’t mean it’s always true. Not everyone is going to want children and we shouldn’t harass people about that decision.

That said, there are certain distinct advantages to having children beyond the obvious tax break. For example: yesterday I was in a local restaurant picking up dinner and there was a baby at one of the tables. The baby started a melt-down: crying, then screaming. Pre-child me would have found this extremely irritating, grating, and stress-inducing. Post-baby I barely even noticed. I have been desensitized to babies in public.

Posted in Daddyblog