A Michigan State University study finds 1 in 5 adults consciously choose not to have children, with no significant life regret reported among older child-free individuals compared to parents. This research challenges traditional perceptions of childlessness.
Thanks for this!!
I’ll probably check out Dr Kennedy.
Though I do feel some skeptical push-back might be warranted, especially at the intersection of my two points.
What proportion of parents can realistically execute something like what you/Kennedy advocate? I have a suspicion that it’s probably unsustainable for many, not just because of economic constraints but personal and psychological ones too. Without knowing anything about Kennedy’s work, I’d wonder how much their bias is that they’re the kind of person that becomes a psychologist with an interest in parenting and how much this bias gives them a blind spot about what many simply aren’t capable of or interested in.
In relation to my first point, I’d then begin to wonder how much Kennedy’s approach has problems in the way that it leans into the individual responsibilities of parents (which would also suit what looks like, from a quick Google, an approach involving selling books and having a social media presence … just saying) rather than any wider social and cultural factors worthy of consideration or change. Of course, perhaps Kennedy does address such points.
Which leads to the broader point about what parenting really is what it should be at a social and cultural scale. While I personally buy into what you describe here (and had already done so before I posted in this thread), I would fear that an emphasis on parents being solely responsible for the emotional development and well being of their children is a sure way to consign many children to poor emotional development no matter how clear and accessible the content/materials are for parents simply because of idiosyncrasies in the makeup of parents and the psychological “resonance” they have with their children.