Reply to Growing share of childless adults in U.S. don’t expect to ever have children

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My 4 yo talks about becoming a mommy when she grows up all the time, and it makes me sad on some level because I just don't know if she is going to feel that way as an adult. I don't think there's anything wrong with choosing not to have kids -- I have a number of friends who went this route either by choice or circumstances, and they are great people with fulfilling lives. But I do wonder if parenthood will feel feasible at all for my kid when she's grown. Especially after parenting through this pandemic and seeing how this country supports (or more specifically, does not support) families in tough times.

I think it's concerning that many of the people saying they don't expect to have kids are NOT saying they don't want them, but that they just don't think it's a smart decision. It's too expensive, it derails your career if you're a woman, and there is an increasing sense that you'd be bringing a kid into a very troubled world (my DD was born just a few months after Trump was elected, so I know acutely how conflicted it can feel to welcome a child into a world with really capital "P" problems.

[b]I think if this bothers you, you should commit t[/b]o:

1) Real progress on climate change, not just fake promises of weak targets but real action with teeth to reduce emissions rapidly, [b]even if it means stuff like reducing air travel[/b] and meat consumption
2) Social supports for young families including strong paid family leave, universal PK, and subsidized childcare.

If you don't think those things are possible or you aren't willing to give up what it would take to accomplish them, then I don't see how you can weight in on the choices of young people not to have children. If the above is a bridge too far for you, I guess we're going to find out what it looks like if birth rates, especially of non-immigrant populations, fall off a cliff.[/quote]

Yeah, cross-post this bit on the Travel forum and see how many DCUM harpies shriek their disagreement. They are already planning summer 2022 vacations abroad, dear.[/quote]

Oh I know. Which is why I don’t see this trend shifting course. I’m simply saying if people want to sit around and lament the trend if young people choosing not to have kids, they have a choice— do something about it, or accept that this is how it is. If you are not willing to make sacrifices for future generations, then there may not be future generations.[/quote]

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