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Are We Happier Without Kids?

Childless Americans enjoy life more, studies say

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 5, 2008 3:26 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Little bundles of joy may not be delivering as much pleasure to their moms and dads as they're reputed to, Newsweek reports. Parents are about 7% less happy than the childless, one study says, while another concludes that "no group of parents reported significantly greater emotional well-being than people who never had children."  Are today's parents too busy and bleary-eyed to feel the love, Newsweek asks, or have expectations changed?

Parents once had kids for partly economic reasons—someone had to help in the fields or mind the store—but parents today focus on emotional fulfillment. Yet they are busy working and get less help in raising kids. Still, it's not kosher to complain: "If you admit that kids and parenthood aren't making you happy, it's basically blasphemy," one blogger says.

A father recoils at being used as a Kleenex.
A father recoils at being used as a Kleenex.   (Shutterstock)
A mother keeps her child above water.
A mother keeps her child above water.   (Shutterstock)
She hopes he will put food on it next time.
She hopes he will put food on it next time.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
malsings07
Sep 16, 2011 5:28 PM CDT
My children are grown now and I have grandchildren way better with the grandchildren than the children.
crafter67
Sep 13, 2011 3:06 AM CDT
NOW can I get everyone to stop asking when I'm going to have kids? 
Guest
Aug 7, 2009 7:54 AM CDT
That's because people think it's a piece of cake to raise kids . It's not that easy just like making a marriage work , it's a day to day give and take thing . Just like the song Say's life's a dance you learn as you go . We raised three children ,it was hard at times but looking back I wouldn't have missed a thing .Now with five grand-kids the fun started again . Besides you get a chance to correct some of the mistakes you made the first time around . Now we're raising our youngest granddaughter do to unforeseen circumstances and except for how this came about We wouldn't change a thing .After 37 yrs of marriage the little girl presents a whole new set of challenges.

How about dealing with kids' unhappiness?
Weekend America

To be happy, just be Danish
Daily Mail (UK)

Don't stress, but your stress hurts your kids
Philadelphia Inquirer

 
study • children • mothers • family • father • survey • happiness

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