100 years ago, people had kids for the free labor, and other things. Why do they chose to have them today?

Question

I'm not asking why you like the ones you have, I'm asking,

"What are some of the reasons people DECIDE to have children." What thoughts take place long before conception?

Answer 1

Sadly------- most have children out of very selfish reasonings
at the top of the list is----- legacy (extending one's self into the future indirectly past one's own demise )
another very high on the list--- To prove themselves (there is a covert--under the wraps need to "prove" one's manhood or womanhood here--- to friends, to family, and to the world at large )
Some even have children to get their own parents off their case--- they actually feel that IF they have children--- it will prove to their folks that they are all grown up now and have no need of parental supervision (as odd as this sounds to a lot of people--- this one reason was given in more cases within a study that was made of early teen pregnancies as THE reasonings behind the female AND male's actual PUSH to have children at those early stages of life !!!)

Answer 2

I do agree that 100 years ago, a benefit of having children was free labor but I don't believe that was the total reason why they have them.

Here's my thoughts:
Before I thought about having my baby, I thought about whether I wanted one or not. I had friends who don't want children, and I considered if it was important to me. I decided that I totally wanted children. Part of it was because I thought about growing old. When your parents die, if you don't have kids, you could be all alone. It would be sad. What would you have to live for? I just thought that that's what you do when you're married, too. And I know that children are a gift from God. I know that they are the only people who will love you unconditionally. They look up to you. And they are just so adorable! I wanted the experience. I wanted to get pregnant and know what it's like. Once you have them, you realize it was the right choice, a great choice, and that you love them more than anything else in the world. You would die for them. Once you have children, you know why you wanted them. But it's hard for people who don't have any to understand how that feels, because you really CAN'T know until you have a baby how it's going to feel. I wanted to have children to raise little people who would have morals and values in a world where those are declining. Maybe they will do something good in life...perhaps my kid could cure cancer (though unlikely) or do something a little less dramatic. Etc. Etc. Those are some of the things that went through my head...

In all honesty, now that I have a child, I enjoy looking after him, shaping him, molding him, helping him become the person he will grow up to be. It's awesome. It's awesome knowing that he totally depends on me, and that he loves me, no matter what, and I am overwhelmed with my love for him. I want him to have the best life possible. It's fun watching him learn and grow. I can't imagine my life without my little guy, what would I have to live for? Would I rather spend my money on myself to buy silly things that mean nothing when you look at the bigger picture? Absolutely not...there are more important things in this world than money and "things"...

Nowadays, people don't have as many kids. Back then, they would have like 6-12, for more help on the farm or whatever, but now the average is 2-3. People have to keep having kids if they didn't want the world to die out. We need to keep repopulating the earth :-)

Answer 3

Personally, I think it's a bit of a legacy. Think of it. When you die, people around you might remember you and your accomplishments... but those memories will fade. Blood ties are strong. With a child, you have a living, breathing legacy that will continue forever (well, so long as they reproduce). Your ideals will continue.

Also, it's been a bit ingrained. Family is the cornerstone of almost every society.

In fact, did you know that there are primal instincts that we still have? The need for food, for sleep, for reproduction. It's a biological need to continue a species' bloodline.

Sure, 100 years ago people may have said that they had children for that reason... but that might not really be true. That was just a perk. That may have been a reason why they had so many (after all, medicine wasn't all as great and neither was the birthrate), but those animal instincts and need for a legacy have been pushing people to reproduce for far longer than 100 years.

Answer 4

That's a very interesting question. Perhaps it's society, such as the storybook "grow up, get married, have kids, white picket fence, etc." Maybe it's just an innate thing - a need to pass on genes. Maybe for some people it's because we are human and have the ability to think critically and when we are in love, we want to have children together. Maybe it's a combination of many factors...

Answer 5

Many different reasons.

Some, because they cherish a sense of family, based on their own upbringing.

Some because they enjoy the sense of wonder and awe that having children around can bring us.

Some because they believe that the proper and traditional family is one that includes children, and perhaps they feel pressure from their own families to continue the family name.

Some because they grew up without love, affection, and attention, and they want to have children to bring this into their lives.

Some, because they want somebody to take care of them when they're old. ;)

And of course, many just have always assumed they WOULD have children, so they do nothing to prevent pregnancy - sort of a default mode.

I'm sure that many parents out there have a combination of some of these...

Answer 6

100 years ago not as many children lived to adulthood, times were alot rougher than these days. Having a larger family increased the odds of having decendants to carry on the family name, plus what you said about helping out around the homestead (not exactly "free labor"). My husband and I wanted children because we wanted to be a family of more than just two (cat didn't count). Someone to love, nurture, and replace you on this planet after you die.

Answer 7

i dont think they had them for free labor 100 years ago.. two adults could more easily provide for themself than two adults could provide for two adults and a small child.. but they may have had more after that to be better able to provide for the family

but i think they had children then because there would come a time when they were unable to care for themselves, and a child you provided for in the past would be able to do that

but i think people ultimately decide to have kids because they want to make the world larger than themselves

Answer 8

The Earned Income and Child Tax Credit.

Answer 9

Babies are designed to make people want to have them, hence the word "clucky". A lot of women feel it is something they need to experience "motherhood" that it is part of being a women.

We wanted to create a family bigger than just ourselves, we felt that we might become materialistic and a little self absorbed without little people to absorb all our money, time and sleep.

Answer 10

The social acceptance of having a family.

We are raised and it is built into everyone that a family is the way to go.

Also I'm sure some only do it for the tax dollars too.