What an interesting thread--thanks Prisca!
The question seems awkward to me. My four children have greatly enriched my life and I love them very much along with the grandchildren. It's very satisfying. Were they worth it? Of course they were! But if I could go back in time and make different choices about marriage, college, career, etc., things could be very different.
I have great empathy for Francois' pain, because I know nothing can be more painful than a kid in perpetual trouble. I think his opinions were perfectly reasonable and inoffensive. After all, they were about his personal situation, not others.
Moreover, the worries and concerns I feel for the future with all the events going on, along with a newly restarted nuclear arms development, I often find myself wishing I hadn't had children. My thinking goes like this: If civilization ends in the next 100 years and I had no progeny, I wouldn't care as much. But it's them who will have to live longer with the consequences of what may happen to civil liberties, nuclear danger, endless war, etc. I could just die in peace in 2-3 decades, instead of worrying about their futures.
Maybe it won't be bad and it's best to let it go. I hope so. Peace and happiness to everyone.
Pat
