Psychologically speaking, What's so great about having kids?

Question

What's the downside?

Answer 1

Psychologically? The brain seems to have a natural reward system when it comes to kids. Every smile makes you smile (within reason, of course), their laugh is heartwarming, and each milestone just feels rewarding. Chemically we are made to bond with our babies before birth. Even the baby knows your scent before birth because the amniotic fluid smells the same as mommy. They also hear in the womb, so they recognize their parents to some extent even seeing them for the first time. It's all part of the chemical bonding process between parent and child. This may also be a reason for the father having sympathetic pregnancy symptoms, such as moodiness and weight gain, which are released soon after birth.

The downside? Children can be mentally draining. It's often recommended that parents, and especially ones of newborns, try to take a break or find solace every once in a while. Many parents have different ways of doing this.

I will say, I can't wait until my children are old enough to start school. I love my son to death, but he's rambunctious and it's hard to keep up. If my youngest son is anything like him, I'll really need a break every so often.

Answer 2

Having children is an awesome thing. Speaking from a woman's position, it is feeling that little life moving around in "your" body that is the first rush. Next comes the process of the child growing inside you; seeing a little foot in the middle of your belly, or an elbow or knee off the side. Then comes the birthing process; painful, YES, but completely worth watching your child come out of your body. Next is the peace, joy, and humility (universally speaking....you know, how the universe is so much bigger than I) of having that little perfect being nursing from your body. I think the greatest thing of all is watching them sleep. Watching their faces, especially the eyes when you are talking to them. Contrary to popular belief, babies understand more than they are given credit for. Finally, not really, watching them grow, becomming their own person and developing their own likes and dislikes. It's an amazing journey. The down side are the tears you cry for them, the dissapointments you can't help prevent them from and the hurts they have to endure to become adult and responsible. The joys far outweigh the downs... Great question. Nana

Answer 3

well for a woman these is a lot of post partum feelings to deal with and hormonal changes that make life very different from pre-child life. There is new strain on existing relationships and adapting to the role of parent. there is also the upside beautiful new baby. even that has sleepless nights and temper tantrums but all in all i would say that telling someone what is good about having kids is difficult has there is a new reason every day it is just a magical thing.

Answer 4

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down.
It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140?

* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up.
You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* keep watching Saturday morning cartoons,
* keep going to Disney movies, and
* keep wishing on stars.


* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, make hand prints set in clay or cards with backward letters for Father's Day and Mother's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck.

You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs,
*and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first bra,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal.

You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren.

You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits.

So one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost.
That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

May you always love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!!!!!!!

Answer 5

It is only great if you are financially secure, are educated on child development because you love children, are a happy couple that love and show respect to one another and have patience. That all makes it great and alot of fun. The downside is stuff that is out of your control for example: suffering depression or dealing with disabilities.

Answer 6

i always thought the same thing, but i know the answer now. to me, its the first time they walk, say the first word, use a spoon for the first time. when my son turned 3 years old, he went thru his terrible stage and i hated it. he wrote on the fridge with a black permanent marker, but the funny part of it all was when he went to tell my mother about it. when she went to scold him about it, he looked at her and said "did you see me do it?" its the little things about children that make it so great. my son is now almost 11 years old. he still amazes me and i couldnt be happier that i have a child! ive never regreted having him!

the downside to having children...the cost! imagine always buying new clothes or shoes cuz they are constantly out growing them! i buy new shoes for my son at least every other month all because he's either outgrown them or has a giant hole in them. oh and also the amount of food he eats now...i could feed myself for a month on what he eats now. but he's growing and i realize that!

Answer 7

The only down side to having kids is that there is alot of work involved and a lot of sleepless nights. But the great thing about having kids is that they love you unconditionally. You don't have to have a certain job, car, house, bank account, etc...

Answer 8

Sometimes, it isn't so great. It can be rough, if you have a child with strong emotions and a demanding personality.

Nobody can hurt you like your children can. We start out with such high hopes, and sometimes we can be so disappointed when their lives aren't what we hoped for.

And yet, it is wonderful to have a sweet child whose total existence depends upon us... and who loves us unconditionally and forgives our faults.

The beauty of ones own children is a kind of magic, as well: seeing your beloved husband or wife in the face of a child is almost like being able to see them when they were a child.

Answer 9

Having children when you are ready is a very rewarding experience. Watching them grow up and learn things is wondrous; but the very best thing about it is the love that you both give and receive. I feel that i have been truly blessed to have a son and a daughter. I wouldn't trade one minute of their ups and downs in my life for anything.

Answer 10

Upside: Hot sex
Downside: Screaming kids