Why have children?

Quite a few young couples are choosing not to have children. Anti-natalism is the term used to describe this trend. Their reasons vary from 'Why bring new life into a world that is faced with pollution, global warming, toxicity everywhere and shortage of safe potable water? To give birth to children would be a selfish act', to 'Children are too much responsibility. We wish to lead a life of freedom and travel'.

David Benatar in his work titled 'Better Never To Have Been: The Harm Of Coming Into Existence' says, 'While good people go to great lengths to spare their children from suffering, few of them seem to notice that the one (and only) guaranteed way to prevent all the suffering of their children is not to bring those children into existence in the first place.' A radical view, but it does raise important existential questions for which there are no black-and-white answers.

Greek philosopher Sophocles said it's best not to have been born because life brings more suffering than good. This may be true for a lot many people, but there are those who face suffering bravely and find ways to overcome it. They are little Pollyannas, who always see the bright side of things. Not everyone, though, has the capacity to always stay positive; there are times when we buckle under the pressure of just living. So, to have or not have children is a purely personal choice, for not all are wired for parenthood.