What are the benefits of having children?

[Nebor]

In your opinion, what are the benefits of having children? Considering the significant real costs (food, clothing, diapers, medical care, etc.) of approx. $250,000 per child, plus the opportunity costs (all the other things you could be doing with your time instead of having and raising children.)

In your mind, what are the benefits that make children worth having? Instinct to propagate? Recieving or giving love? Societal pressure to "fit in?" Wanting to carry on a bloodline or family name?

 

[ChaoZ]

They can fetch you beer.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Potential Spare Parts

 

[Isaac MM]

Having kids is what people do when nothing is new anymore, life is boring and they don't really have any reason to live anymore.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: ChaoZ
They can fetch you beer.

came in here to reply with something profound, but read this and spit my water all over the monitor from laughing


now where's my 2 year old son, I need another Guiness

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I plan on sponging off of mine when I retire.

 

[her209]

They're obligated to take care of you when you're old and senile.

 

[SpunkyJones]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
I plan on sponging off of mine when I retire.

Winner. They are my little two footed retirement plans.

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: her209
They're obligated to take care of you when you're old and senile.

Lots of luck with that idea.

 

[Brovane]

When you come home from a rough day at work and you hear your children scream that Daddy's home and come over and give you a kiss and a hug.

 

[sportage]

They're obligated to take care of you when you're old and senile.

Lots of luck is right!
More and more you get stuck raising your kids kids.

Your 70, and your child just dropped off (dumped) "their" kid for you to watch... FOREVER.

Thats why, as parents in retirement, its wise to move out of state. Maybe AZ or Florida?

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: ChaoZ
They can fetch you beer.

That and they can do chores around the house while you relax and enjoy the beer. KIDS FTW

 

[dquan97]

Originally posted by: Isaac MM
Having kids is what people do when nothing is new anymore, life is boring and they don't really have any reason to live anymore.

Is that what your parents told u?

 

[thedarkwolf]

Originally posted by: Brovane
When you come home from a rough day at work and you hear your children scream that Daddy's home and come over and give you a kiss and a hug.

Have dogs for that. They are cheaper and easier to deal with.

 

[manowar821]

They give you an undeserved sense of self righteousness.

 

[mpitts]

One day when you guys are married and the woman starts talking about wanting kids..

You know what.. Nevermind. It doesn't really apply here.

 

[mpitts]

Originally posted by: manowar821
They give you an undeserved sense of self righteousness.

I know that's why I had my son.

 

[lucasorion]

If you raise them right, you have the opportunity of bringing some good, smart, valuable people into a world full of pretty mediocre ones.
It seems like the greatest science project in the world to me, I hope I get to do it some day.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: ChaoZ
They can fetch you beer.

I'm still trying to teach them that one.

 

[ppdes]

They give you an excuse for not doing anything significant with your life.

 

[nageov3t]

ensuring that your genes get passed on throughout the rest of humanity's existence.

 

[dquan97]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf

Originally posted by: Brovane
When you come home from a rough day at work and you hear your children scream that Daddy's home and come over and give you a kiss and a hug.

Have dogs for that. They are cheaper and easier to deal with.

Your dog can say "Daddy's home!"?

 

[Atty]

I agree with the OP. Other then needlessly wasting my money I don't see the point in children, although it could be how young I am (18) I don't have that much need to carry on my name, and I don't get too much satisfaction out of the love of children. Maybe that will change with age though....or a really beautiful woman whom I am in love with threatening to leave me if I don't impregnate her. :X

 

[thedarkwolf]

Originally posted by: dquan97

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf

Originally posted by: Brovane
When you come home from a rough day at work and you hear your children scream that Daddy's home and come over and give you a kiss and a hug.

Have dogs for that. They are cheaper and easier to deal with.

Your dog can say "Daddy's home!"?

Of coarse they can and do. Not in english but its not exactly hard to understand them.

 

[IronWing]

Breast feeding reduces a woman's risk of breast cancer by dumping toxins such as heavy metals that have accumulated in a woman's fatty tissues into the kid. Other than that, it's all a loss.