Anyone feel guilty for having kids?

[Anonymous]

I love them to pieces but feel very depressed when I think of the world that we are leaving them. I’m one person and I can’t make a difference.

[Anonymous]

The world is messed up and it’s only going to get worse. However, we are animals and programmed to procreate. It’s what we do as humans, so no, I don’t feel guilty.

[Anonymous]

I don't feel guilty but I definitely worry about the future for them.

[Anonymous]

I compensate by over planning.

[Anonymous]

In a different way. I feel guilty for having had them because I knew it was important to my husband. I’d have been happy with out them.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if guilty is the right word but I do feel it was selfish to have them and that it isn’t fair to them to have brought them into this shit show. They’re young, so I really should have known better.

[Anonymous]

Just had this thought after seeing the flooding in Dubai. The rate at which global warming is happening is frightening. So much war. So much hate. It can all feel incredibly overwhelming and worrisome for our kids’ generation.

[Anonymous]

I chose not to have kids many years ago due to environmental reasons, but I'm a strong believer that there's no such thing as mistakes made in this realm. Once they're here, it's because they were meant to be.

So then the question becomes how to educate them to have the least impact they can have on the planet and how to live lives that will make the world a better place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know if guilty is the right word but I do feel it was selfish to have them and that it isn’t fair to them to have brought them into this shit show. They’re young, so I really should have known better.

I don’t exactly feel guilty but I do feel it’s one of the most selfish decisions I’ve ever made to have two kids. But I adore them so much and am fundamentally an optimist, so I hope they have happy lives even if they live in an increasingly worsening world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I chose not to have kids many years ago due to environmental reasons, but I'm a strong believer that there's no such thing as mistakes made in this realm. Once they're here, it's because they were meant to be.

So then the question becomes how to educate them to have the least impact they can have on the planet and how to live lives that will make the world a better place.

I made this choice too and my concern and love for my nieces, nephews, friends kids is what drives me to work for change.

[Anonymous]

Not at all. The world is so much better now than it was in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not at all. The world is so much better now than it was in the past.

This. I’m amazed at how ignorant of history people are when they think this is some uniquely awful time to be alive. What time do y’all think was so great if you’re that concerned about the future?

[Anonymous]

All of you need to seek help. Neo-Malthusians have been telling people to stop having kids since the 1700s. Enjoy your life and your kids, and try not to communicate that their life will be terrible. Try to focus on solving actual human caused problems, like ocean trash and reduce your use of plastics. Climate change worries are silly. The climate changes and we (and everything else in nature) adapt. That been happening for millions/billions of years.

[Anonymous]

I'm a research scientist No, Earth is not dying. Species will be replaced.

It's humans, specifically, that have a problem, because temperature increases and extreme flood/drought events across the world destabilize societies and force people to migrate for food, water and jobs, causing conflict around the world. We are not food-secure as a species if all the agricultural changes due to global warming come to pass.

However humans are incredibly inventive beings and will think of effective solutions, just as they've thought of them in the past.

Just because the world is changing fast, doesn't mean it's changing for the worst, even though that's what the media wants you to think! Bad news sells more than good news.

The good news is that we have made rapid medical advances and have treatments of cancers and others diseases that prolong survival. People around the globe don't suffer as much from preventable illnesses and the global standard of living has gone up dramatically compared to 50 years ago. We tend not to notice in our wealthy neck of the woods, but most third world countries which were constantly on the brink of famine in the 20th century, with extremely low standards of living (high infant and maternal mortality, no electricity, safe water access, or family planning) now power their life with solar panels that increase water access (wells powered by solar electricity), education level (more light to teach/read), and medical care.

We need to navigate the choppy waters ahead, but the reality is that humans are better off now than they ever were before. We need to keep that going despite forced migration, changing agricultural paradigms, and urban overheating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a research scientist No, Earth is not dying. Species will be replaced.

It's humans, specifically, that have a problem, because temperature increases and extreme flood/drought events across the world destabilize societies and force people to migrate for food, water and jobs, causing conflict around the world. We are not food-secure as a species if all the agricultural changes due to global warming come to pass.

However humans are incredibly inventive beings and will think of effective solutions, just as they've thought of them in the past.

Just because the world is changing fast, doesn't mean it's changing for the worst, even though that's what the media wants you to think! Bad news sells more than good news.

The good news is that we have made rapid medical advances and have treatments of cancers and others diseases that prolong survival. People around the globe don't suffer as much from preventable illnesses and the global standard of living has gone up dramatically compared to 50 years ago. We tend not to notice in our wealthy neck of the woods, but most third world countries which were constantly on the brink of famine in the 20th century, with extremely low standards of living (high infant and maternal mortality, no electricity, safe water access, or family planning) now power their life with solar panels that increase water access (wells powered by solar electricity), education level (more light to teach/read), and medical care.

We need to navigate the choppy waters ahead, but the reality is that humans are better off now than they ever were before. We need to keep that going despite forced migration, changing agricultural paradigms, and urban overheating.

Thank you to PP for spelling this out. I agree. Our current era is troubled but we have come so far in the last few hundred years. Have faith that humanity can course correct. People already live in all kinds of extreme environments from snow-filled to desert. We will be able to adapt.