Despite how difficult being a parent is, the majority of people are still up for the challenge. In fact, according to a 2023 Gallup poll, Americans’ preference for larger families is the highest it has been since 1971. Nearly half the nation believes that having one or two children is ideal, while 45% say three or more kids would make their family the perfect size.
Over two-thirds of adults in the United States have kids, and 15% say that they don’t have any yet, but they plan to. And when it comes to who tends to prefer larger families, Gallup found that Black Americans, those who are religious, and younger adults are more likely to want more kids.
So why does becoming a parent appeal to so many people? Well, the Institute for Family Studies notes that there are a variety of factors that come into play. Some people decide to have kids for the greater good. An aging population isn’t great for the economy, so somebody’s gotta keep the workforce alive! Obviously, this isn’t the most sentimental reason to start a family, but it’s something to consider.
On the other hand, many parents choose to have kids to bring more joy into their lives. Being a parent can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and many moms and dads report that they’re happier after having kids. Plus, some people see having children as their life’s purpose, and they’ve been dreaming about it since they were kids themselves.
Sometimes couples decide to have children because they’re worried about who's going to take care of them when they’re older. If they have a few kids around, somebody is guaranteed to take them in, right? Well, not necessarily. But this is a common reason cited for starting a family.
Meanwhile, some people just don’t consider any other path. It was always assumed that they would have kids, so they never questioned it. They grew up, got married, and had kids of their own. And now, they get to share hilarious stories about their adorable little ones on the internet.
It’s no secret that parents are expected to juggle countless responsibilities at once. But we have to remember that moms and dads are humans too. They may act like superheroes, but their jobs take a toll on them. So to hold their families together without losing their minds, many parents realize that it’s necessary to be able to find humor in every situation. And according to Parents.com, humor can be an incredibly powerful tool for moms and dads.
One way humor can benefit parents is by stopping situations from escalating. For example, if your toddler falls off his tricycle and begins to cry, it’s probably not going to be helpful for Mom and Dad to look extremely worried and concerned. He will notice their nervousness and feed off of it. But if they smile, assure him that it’s no big deal, and make silly faces to get him to laugh, he might forget about the whole ordeal almost instantly. At the same time, situations like these can teach kids not to sweat the small stuff and to be more resilient.
At the same time, being open and honest about parenting blunders online can help moms and dads feel less alone. There are countless examples of seemingly “perfect” parents on the internet, from mommy bloggers to family TikTok accounts. These pages usually try to sell the fantasy that having kids is wonderful, magical, and beautiful every single moment. But that can set unrealistic expectations for parents and make those who do mess up or become frustrated from time to time (i.e. everyone) feel incredibly bad about themselves.
