Why have Children?

This question needs no introduction. However, have you ever wondered why? Purely from logic. Spiritual reasons, keep aside for a while. 

Did you ever ask your parents, just why, why did they have you? Most of us assume, oh that's what people do. They get married and have children to make their own family. Sounds beautiful to me too. However, this is far from the reality I witnessed. 

As an adult, I see that most people have children without planning financially, mentally, and physically. They introduce life on Earth as being completely unprepared. 

In reality, to start off with, it is all about wishes and more specifically, gender roles. A boy is favored as he'll grow up, earn money, and ultimately will become a support system in old age. People say Indians don't know much about investing money. They aren't seeing that Indians are low-risk investors. They invest in their children instead. They educate them for a bright future. A bright future means, the child will fulfill all their wishes, which they couldn't. The child will take a big risk to venture out into the big world. Will make a name and give reasons for them to brag about. And on top of it, they'll invest emotionally too. They will do cost-cutting which we call, sacrifices. Invariably the child is bound to feel guilty for not being good enough to fulfill the sky-high expectations. It feels disgusting when you are not seen as a human but as an investment portfolio. Isn't it? I have seen cost-cutting as a sacrifice too. Thanks to Bollywood. Btw movies like Baghban and Sansar have done a great job in brainwashing dear parents with illogic. Because I remember my father with tears in his eyes, showing these movies only to point out what children do when they grow up. I grew up avoiding watching the drama genre. I am sure there are many people like my father too, who cried along with Mr. Amitabh Bachhan and Mr. Anupam Kher. All emotions and no logic films. Oh! that reminds me, have you ever noticed the background music of news channels? So dramatic!! Anyways, I am digressing. 

Back to the main point. So, why do people have children? Because they don't know what else to choose. They don't know what all choices there are in building a life. They don't take risks because? Survival and security instincts plus having a child is a great source of entertainment. Worse is the case with women. Marrying a man and having children is deemed the safest choice. What outside people don't know is how stuck women feel in marriage and especially after a child if they are not financially independent. Just the thought of getting married in a patriarchal society and having a child in this crooked world makes my inner voice say a big NO. It is high time we educate our parents/society. Not by guilt-tripping but by showing them the paths they never choose. 

First and foremost, by being financially, mentally, and physically prepared for a child. Think a hundred times before having a second child. There aren't many resources on earth to sustain such a big population. You can adopt or guess what? You can choose to remain child-free too! For god's sake don't think of your child as an investment. You welcomed them into this world so they are your responsibility till it becomes a two-way street. And even if it doesn't you and your child both have a choice. When will your savings be helpful? You sure wouldn't like to be treated like a burden if the responsibility is not coming out of love from your child. Even better treat them as your friends because responsibility sounds like a liability too. Is this all impractical or too difficult to achieve? 

P.S. I know this is a sensitive topic but needless to say this is a personal blog/ space where I express my thoughts. Having said that, I welcome your thoughts in person or via comments.