I know this isn't a trivial question, but are kids worth it? I'm in a phase of my life where the looming question of my existence is whether or not I should have kids. If I am, I should do it NOW that I'm in my late 30s, but this graph and the statement "there's a devastatingly short window during which you are your child's entire world. Don't blink and miss it" is literally the encapsulation of my dilemma. Just feels like the days are long but the years are short. Does anyone have thoughts to share?

I had my son at 36 and he was a surprise pregnancy. Glad I didn’t have him earlier. Not sure I would have chosen to actually have kids if it weren’t for the surprise and now I’m a single parent. I hated the newborn phase. I know a lot of people glorify the younger years but I’m so glad I’m not his entire world anymore and just appreciate the continued development. My role as his mom is not to be his world, but to prepare him to go out into the world. I will be his mom no matter what for the rest of my life. I think a lot of parents have kids to satisfy themselves at the detriment of their kids. If you want someone to need you, that is not a good reason to have kids. Just get a dog or some kind of pet. Having kids should be about them and their future, not about you or them filling some void in you. Ultimately, it’s your choice to have a kid or not and there are options beyond biological kids like adoption, fostering, helping out friends or family with their kids but still it has to be about them and not them fulfilling something for you.

Wow this is a heavy topic. And I don't think anyone can totally answer your question because whether or not they're 'worth it' is completely up to how the experience of motherhood makes you feel. On a personal front, I don't think anything else has made me feel more fulfilled than having kids, but at the same time, my values and joys of life might be completely different from yours. The graph isn't lying and the statement is on point. But it's the risk you take to enjoy parenthood. I think that should be your question - do you want to experience parenthood or not? Is that something that entices you?

Parenthood is not for the faint of heart. Work exhaustion is nothing like newborn exhaustion. Being sick and having to care for other humans should be illegal. Catching vomit with your hands is something you may do at least once, if not more. The things you find yourself having to say and the rules you create for your family on the fly are mind blowing (mom of 3 boys here, had to set a rule that we can't eat food with hotsauce while naked).

But I'll tell you, their smiles are a high I chase. Their love feels better than anything I've ever experienced in my life. I would, without a doubt, do it all again (with maybe a little less screen time for us all).

Not sure I answered anything, but I feel warm inside thinking of my babies now. 😀

I think if you are asking if kids are “worth it” parenting is likely not for you. There is no measurable ROE.

I gave birth last year to my son at 38. It’s been one of the toughest, yet rewarding experiences of my life.

The way his face lights up every time he sees me is incredible.

Do you have anyone to help you raise kids?

Do you want to have kids? Do you want to prioritize being a mom for the next 19 years (if not longer), including any health and financial issues that could arise for you and your child? Only you know the answer to that, but you can't change your mind if you decide you want to do this.

I like my kids :)

Parenthood is not a requirement for a happy and healthy life. It is truly up to you to decide if having children will add to or take from your happy and healthy life.

No. I mean, they are great but if you crunch the numbers, no. Also, the earth already has too many people on it (Elon is an idiot for declaring the opposite). I have kids that I would do anything for but may have rethought having them if I had waited until I got into my 30's to have them or if Trump was elected beforehand.

The answer to your question depends on how you measure worth! And there’s no single right answer.

Kids change your world when you have them. And no matter how much you try to prepare for the impact, you’ll be surprised.

I wasn’t sure I wanted kids, right up until I gave birth to my first. But I would not change a thing. They’ve been the biggest blessings in my life, the hardest challenges, the most fascinating conundrums, the greatest sources of laughter and sheer joy, the biggest stressors, and the accomplishments I will forever be most proud of. Watching them grow into the amazing humans they are becoming is incredibly satisfying.

They are expensive. They force you to focus on things outside of your own priorities and concerns. They help you look at the world with new eyes, and open the door to childlike wonder.

From a purely financial view it makes zero sense to have kids. So you have to look at the total ROI and decide whether you think the negative financial implications are overcome by the other positives. They are for some of us. They aren’t for others. And that’s ok!

I really don’t think anyone can answer this question for you. It very much depends on what you find brings value, and also what’s important to you.
I never wanted kids, I knew when I was very young that I’d never have kids. Thankfully my partner of 20 years felt exactly the same.

Then, due to a cancer diagnosis almost 3 years ago- I now cannot have kids. Finding that out didn’t bother me in the slightest, nor my husband. I literally wasn’t phased by it at all and 3 years later it still doesn’t bother me. If anything, the pressure is now off (and thanks to the cancer, I am now in menopause in my late 30’s). So- clearly I was never meant to have kids!! Haha

Maybe consider how you might feel 10-20 years from now without kids and see how it makes you feel. Consider where you’d like to see yourself in 10-20 years and see if kids are part of that image.

There’s no right or wrong if it’s what you want- just a big decision to make either way I guess.