Over at Unherd, Freya India has an interesting column titled “Why doesn’t Gen Z want children?” Her conclusion? The younger generation is “being infantilised well into adulthood.” A recent survey indicates that a stunning 55% of Gen Z and Millennials plan to have children, with a quarter of those between 18 and 34 ruling out parenthood entirely. The most common reason cited for this is “wanting time for themselves.” We are now living, India notes, in an “era of extended adolescence,” brought about in part by the rising costs of both living and higher education, which brings a consequent delay in “adult activities like going on a date, working for pay, learning to drive, or having sex.”
I would add the rise of intensive parenting culture to this list. The standards around pregnancy and parenting are barely sustainable for a couple of kids, let alone a larger family. I also think potential grandparents should be encouraged to offer to provide as much care as they are able.
That’s so true. My four children did not experience what m grandchildren experience -a parent in tap or a grandparent to ‘play’ and give them undivided attention. My children had to learn to play with each other and amuse themselves- it was too busy and I had to work. The modern parent cannot do without us grandparents to take up the slack. I didn’t have that.
It’s so true that people need to literally see large families to know that they are, in fact, possible. “I can’t imagine that” and “I could never do that” are not that far apart, and both comments--especially the latter--show limited experience. As a mom of going-on-eight kids, and wife to my husband for nineteen years, I can definitely attest to the importance of being around people who’ve been married for a long time and raised lots of children together. Thanks for this.
I would add the rise of intensive parenting culture to this list. The standards around pregnancy and parenting are barely sustainable for a couple of kids, let alone a larger family. I also think potential grandparents should be encouraged to offer to provide as much care as they are able.
Great observation.
That’s so true. My four children did not experience what m grandchildren experience -a parent in tap or a grandparent to ‘play’ and give them undivided attention. My children had to learn to play with each other and amuse themselves- it was too busy and I had to work. The modern parent cannot do without us grandparents to take up the slack. I didn’t have that.
It’s so true that people need to literally see large families to know that they are, in fact, possible. “I can’t imagine that” and “I could never do that” are not that far apart, and both comments--especially the latter--show limited experience. As a mom of going-on-eight kids, and wife to my husband for nineteen years, I can definitely attest to the importance of being around people who’ve been married for a long time and raised lots of children together. Thanks for this.