Given the state of humanity and climate change, why anybody has a child now, whether you're wealthy or poor, puzzles me.
When I was a child, my mother, in a fit of parenting frustration, said out loud, "Don't ever have children!".
Those words didn't hurt me. I was an astute child, and before I heard my mother's words, had already made up my mind not to, after seeing the work, frustration, worry, time and attention us kids needed and to which my parents lives were devoted.
My parents were very good people and parents. They made painful mistakes raising their children, but I know I hit the lottery jackpot when I was born to them and my siblings would say the same.
As others here of pointed put, my beef isn't with children. It's with poor parenting.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard in a store parents "negotiating" with their kids. Or commenting "my child is a picky eater and won't eat that".
I don't recall my parents allowing that to be an option. We ate what was put before us, and we sure as hell didn't act-up in a store because the law was laid down to us before we went in: No touching any items, no speaking to store staff, no running or misbehavior. And we knew our parents meant business.
Children are not the peers of parents, nor do they wish to be, something my parents made crystal clear to us. Their was a chain-of-command in our household, with them as the Commanders-in- Chief.
If we made the mistake of acting up at school, our parents marched to the school, and in front of us, said to the staff, "Our children our to behave and follow school rules. If they don't, you have our authority to correct them and it will also be handled at home." Very powerful words that reinforced the authority of school teachers and staff rather than undermine it.
Dad died a long time ago. Mom lived into her 80s. After we were adults my mom expressed her love for for us by saying, "My kids are now my friends."
Whatever "expert" came up with the notion that children are the peers of parents out to be drawn and quartered.