Because I want to? It’s not really easy to figure out the true reasons for why one does something (there’s a high probability of rationalization), but probable reasons include:
I like kids, and tend to get along with them well
it’s a nice excuse for being able to play with Legos again
I like teaching, and finding games for teaching
A sense of social responsibility: if I can afford to raise kids in a better environment than average, I should do so (see also nykos’s comment in this thread)
My parents, my wife’s parents, etc. etc. prefer to have grandkids
I’m still relatively young, and know that it’s better to have kids early than late (it’s easier, the kid has a lower chance of having genetic problems, and we have more energy)
I expect that when I’m older, having kids will be more interesting and useful
Raising kids is a bit of a challenge
(Yes, some of those reasons could be described as “because it will make me happier”)
I plan to because I appear to have a very strong reward circuit around children (especially happy children). I quite literally enjoy a child’s smile more than any food I have ever eaten, for example.
Why are you having kids?
Because I want to? It’s not really easy to figure out the true reasons for why one does something (there’s a high probability of rationalization), but probable reasons include:
I like kids, and tend to get along with them well
it’s a nice excuse for being able to play with Legos again
I like teaching, and finding games for teaching
A sense of social responsibility: if I can afford to raise kids in a better environment than average, I should do so (see also nykos’s comment in this thread)
My parents, my wife’s parents, etc. etc. prefer to have grandkids
I’m still relatively young, and know that it’s better to have kids early than late (it’s easier, the kid has a lower chance of having genetic problems, and we have more energy)
I expect that when I’m older, having kids will be more interesting and useful
Raising kids is a bit of a challenge
(Yes, some of those reasons could be described as “because it will make me happier”)
Here’s a few more:
My wife’s an awesome person, there should be more people like her
We can probably make this child happy
Parental happiness comes from these factors, but only if you first care about these factors independently of the effect on your happiness.
I plan to because I appear to have a very strong reward circuit around children (especially happy children). I quite literally enjoy a child’s smile more than any food I have ever eaten, for example.