Is there any unselfish reason to have kids?

Question

I think that it is pretty selfish to have kids just so your name will be carried on, to have someone take care of you when you are older, or so you can be happy. It is not fair to bring someone into this world so that you tell them what they can and cannot do and to make them do chores and things like that, which is what every parent does. I can't even think of one NON-selfish reason to have kids. Almost every, if not all, reasons are selfish.

I am sixteen, but I know that I never want to be a father. Kids are expensive and would prohibit me from traveling the world. It is selfish for anyone, including me, to contribute to overpopulation to make themselves happy. I know people will tell me that it is just a phase, but if I left my age out, they would assume that I am an adult.

Answer 1

buddy u should really get some help!

like ASAP

Kara<3

Answer 2

You are right: there are not a single person on this planet, who ever does an act which is unselfish. It`s logic. Deciding to have kids IS selfish and to decide NOT to have kids is equally selfish. You only do things that feels good or does good, other wise you wouldn`t do it. People on this page saying that having children is unselfish, simply are in denial. They get children to fulfill their dreams or get a purpose in life, or simply have somebody to love and care for, which is very human. But to imply that it`s bad to have children, or criticize people because they have children is immature.

Instead of traveling, you could sponsor a poor child in a poor country ( so could a lot more people actually ). It would be a selfish act ( bc it would make you feel good  ). If you don`t care about poor children, it would also be selfish. It`s better to be selfish if it makes you feel good, isn`t it?

Answer 3

i am still a kid ,10 really.And i am so happy to be in this world my parents are wonderful people and they get to travel all over the world.We have been to Kentucky,Ireland,Scottland,Australia,etc so if you are nice to your kids you are bringing a new life into this world but if you don't like kids don't have um

Answer 4

sorry to say but honestly i think u r the one being selfish.  i think ur parents are forcing rules and chores and thats not what u want and ur mad about it. i can easliy see ur a child and not an adult/ u need to get over just bc ur parents make u do chores and inforce some ground rules on u. u dont want kids thats ur choice but u need to keep it in ur pants and not have s*x either/

Answer 5

somebody call the waambulance.

Answer 6

I see where you're coming from. I agree, having kids DOES prohibit one from doing a LOT of things. I'm not planning on having any kids, or even getting married, honestly. Having kids can be great, if that's your thing.. but many people do it merely to carry on the name, as you said. If I EVER wanted a child I'd adopt. That would be much more aesthetic regarding the overpopulation.

Answer 7

I agree with everything you said. My dad wants grandchildren to pass on the name, but I won't be having kids. He was pretty disappointed.

I was 15 when I decided to never be a father ever in my life. Kids are a huge responsibility, and they're annoying and a stress factor. I personally think young people who are childless, they should never have children.

Answer 8

Get over yourself. Based on what you said, no one in their right mind would think you're an adult. The things you say are so childish that they make no sense.

Almost no one with children can think for that child's whole life that the child is there to take care of them when they are old. It's just something people say.

Having a child is very unselfish if you do it the right way! Meaning that you take care of all of your child's needs, and some of their wants.

Answer 9

after reading the additional comments of your question, you sound seriously depressed and/or seriously spoiled.

get help.

now on to your question - i didn't have my child to carry on my name, to do chores, to take care of me when I'm older, or to tell them what to do.  I never thought of having a child just to make myself happy.  seriously, i don't know if there is a specific reason why i had a child.  it just happened.  i was created with the ability to bear children.  it was a natural process for me.

Answer 10

Nice.  You know the solution- don't have s*x... EVER.  That's selfish too.  Plus you could end up getting someone pregnant and then *GASP!* become a father.  ARRGGHHHH!!!

I guess I'm selfish because I have a 2 year old and one on the way.  Hmm- wanting to share a happy life with children- how selfish.  LOL

By all means- get yourself a vasectomy as soon as you are 18.  So travel around the world and have your selfish s*x.   And live your selfish, lonely life.

Happy trails.

Oh yeah- and remember- when you're traveling around the world, seeing great things.... that you wouldn't have been able to if your selfish parents had aborted you.

Selfish.

Answer 11

oh shut up go kill urself then......Life is buetiful and I'm glad i was born .....And i live in the #6 most murdered city in the U.S>A

Answer 12

Sheeesh.  Get over it. Do you have any real problems in life or are you just trying your best to be depressive. I wouldn't assume you were an adult, your clearly a child. sorry.

People have children to procreate, thats what the human race does.

Answer 13

There are a growing number of people who have made the decision to never have children, for lots of reasons. When the food riots caused by overpopulation start, you will be glad you don't have to watch your kids starve

I agree the world is a generally miserable place

Parents say that having kids is selfless because they think they work hard to look after them at no gain to themselves - thats a lie. The woman WANTS to be pregnant and made a fuss of, the man WANTS to feel manly by spreading his seed. Afterwards they regret their choice but are stuck with it, but not allowed to admit it because people would dislike them and the kids would get upset.

Mom2be - you are giving up your life to care for someone else WHO YOU ARE CHOOSING TO CREATE. That is not selfless. There are already plenty of people in ther world in need, if you want to be selfless, go and work in a hospice instead of adding another unnecessary big pile of S****y nappies and hundreds of empty little glass jars to the world's rubbish tips.

Face it you are pregnant because you want to be, not because you're an angel

Also - lots of you think there is something special about humanity. There isn't; we have ruined the planet and caused untold suffering to many species. Not a tradition worth continuing if you ask me

Answer 14

It is selfish your right to just have a child to carry on your name but there are very few selfish reasons to have a child.  Children take time and energy to raise and are expensive so most people have them for unselfish reasons.  If you don't want kids then don't ever have unprotected s*x and make sure she is on BC and if possible not able to have children or wanting children either.  I know many guys your age though that say they never, i mean never want children but they continue to risk it by having s*x with woman of childbearing age and eventually most end up with atleast 1 kid and sometimes they really do ok.  It is a selfless act for many though because it does take so much to raise children, the selfish ones are those that have them for reasons like childsupport, carry on the name stuff like that.  But many parents have them for unselfish reasons.

Answer 15

Well, maybe conceiving kids can be selfish. But what about adopting to give a child a better home? Is that selfish? You wouldn't be making the population bigger either. There are too many great things that I see in life to think like you. Love, Happiness, etc. I suppose I'd just want someone of my own blood to expierence life the way I do. I'm so happy my mom gave birth to me. Even if we do die someday, there might be some sort of life beyond that. And at least I enjoyed living, right? I'm in love with the most amazing person in the world. I couldn't ask for more. I know my mom had me for unselfish reasons. I'm her number one priority. She has to make me happy before herself. That's the way she is. I don't see her as selfish in anyway.

Okay... MAYBE I got off topic a whole lot but whatever. >>;

T-T

Answer 16

being a parent is the most selfless act there is. there are tons of people who have kids not just because they want their name carried on but because having a child with the person you love and are in love with is a beautiful thing.

i'm now 20 and i always though my parents did whatever they wanted and it wasn't fair because i had rules, etc, etc. but now i see how much they've had to give up to have myself and my brother and sister. i'm married and my husband and i can't wait to start our family.

just something to think about.

Answer 17

Having a child is one of the least selfish things you can do......how is giving up your life as you know it to love and care for someone else selfish?

Answer 18

True I tell my kids what to do but that's only because I think about what is best for them.

Would you really go to school if I don't tell you to go. I doubt it

My Cousin ignores their kids and never sends them to school never had any rules or obidience and they're now 10yrs old, can't read, write, and hyperactive due to too much junk food. Which is more cruel and selfish?

Selfishness is thinking only about yourself and from your post you sound quite selfish to me already..

You know you are expensive yet you don't appreciate the money your parents used to bring you up.

If you say you never asked for it then how about thinking of some way to help pay for your cost of living

If you suicide thats even more selfish it's like throwing your parents money and hard work down the drain.

You were asked to help around the house yet you don't want to and for what reason? Isn't this a selfish act?

I ask my kids to do chores because being helpful doen't hurt

If everyone was selfish and didn't help anyone what do you tink the world will be like?

I also want them to learn that to survive in this world you have to work and if you do it properly you don't have to do it again

Do you think your parents were really selfish by having you?

They spend their hard earned money to buy you clothes give you food, let you use the computer have internet and the list goes on...

When in fact they could have just travelled the world and not worry about you as you said

Have you ever thought that some people have kids not just because of themselves but because they want to make someone else happy namely the baby

Answer 19

Everyone has their own opinions and feelings on what they want when it comes to children, but to say you'd rather have been aborted, or you wouldn't want to be alive signals to me that perhaps you need some professional help. Your prost comes off as very depressing, you seem quite depressed. Perhaps having someone to speak to would help to express your feelings a little better.

I do agree with you, in some ways. There are some very selfish reasons to bring a child into the world, such as to keep a boyfriend, or to "have someone who will love you unconditionally".

However, there are some very unselfish reasons. My children are/were conceived and brought into this world because we were ready for parenthood. We were ready for responsibility and rather than have them learn of all the disgust in the world, we truly believe the good outweighs the bad, and we want to raise our children and show them that not all the world is bad, and with a little love and compassion, the world can change.

Our children are our future. What may be disgusting now doesn't have to be in the future if we teach them the right way to go and the right way to love.

You may believe this world is disgusting, but what are you doing to change that?

You seem to be a very intelligent young man, but I think you need to try and see things in a different light. Not all the world is black and white.

Edit to Add: My husband swore up and down that he never wanted children. He even consulted his doctor for a vasectomy when he was 22. Thankfully, and yes, HIS thankful, his doctor turned him away and told him to come back when he's 30 if he feels the same way. He's 28 now, and our daughter wasn't planned, but he loves her all the same. He sees his decision to not have kids as young, naive and selfish. He is very glad our daughter is here. He loves her to pieces. He sees the benefits and love of children. He's now ecstatic and anxious to welcome our second in a few months.

Answer 20

In all honesty I think having a child is the least selfish thing a person could do. Parents bring children in the world most times in hopes that their child will be the President and what not. They want their child to do something good for their community.

Unfortunately there are some parents who hurt their children in ways children should never be touched. I don't think some of those people ever thought to get pregnant to have someone to abuse - it just happened that way.

When you say that it's so children can do chores and such the only reason for that is because parents want to teach their children to be clean, tidy and disiplined. If at an early age the parents teach their children to put their toys into the right basket when they're done it's so later in life they're room isn't messy and so they aren't living like pigs.

Later, when their children are teenagers, the teach them how to do things such as vaccum correctly, wash dishes, and maybe once or twice a night help prepare supper so that when these teenagers are adults and living on their own or have a family they need to support they know how to do it.

What I do find selfish is someone not wanting kids because they'd be like a roadblock to them. I know that if I had kids and wanted to see the world I would be more than happy to take them with me.

Answer 21

I want to have kids because I love them, not because I want to carry on my name or so they can look after me. If everyone stopped having kids, human race wouldnt carry on. Stick that in your pompous pipe and smoke it!