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What caused the 'baby boom'? What would it take to have another?

derekthompson.org

831–840 of 927 posts

Re: What caused the 'baby boom'? What would it take to have another?

#831

My anecdotal experience, which illustrates how changing societal norms may be contributing. Around 1960, my grandmother scandalously fell pregnant with my mother in her late teens. The child was adopted out - well, not out - in. To her own grandmother, to be raised as a "younger sister" to her own mother. Around 1980, my mother scandalously fell pregnant with me, in her late teens. Despite family disapproval, the chi…

Having kids when you are young and financially not established is just irresponsible, but particularly female bodies don’t do well having kids older when you are established enough to do so responsibly. I’m having this problem right now with my spouse (we have a kid, but are thinking about another), it’s just super hard to get pregnant without medical help.

are you saying that everyone in poor countries barely making it by are being "just irresponsible" when they decide they want to have kids?

this seems very elitist, possibly racist, and certainly could indicate that your view might be wrong, given the literal billions chosing to do this.

Re: What caused the 'baby boom'? What would it take to have another?

#832
post #822

What if we just made people financially comfortable and secure again? The axis is "feed and breed" vs "fight or flight." And stop making people move away from their families for a shot at financial security. Having family around is a key expedient to raising kids, just as it has been since the dawn of time. Stop making people leave their families for return-to-office nonsense. Millennials have been through repeated p…

Don't wealthy people have fewer children?

The problem is millennials having fewer children, not wealthy people having fewer children.

Millennials are historically notable for having both fewer children and less wealth than prior generations at the same age.

Re: What caused the 'baby boom'? What would it take to have another?

#833

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I make 5 times more than my SO and I can realistically have 3/4 families if I wanted. I proposed multiple times my SO to work part time and spend more time at home and have children and she has 0 intentions of giving up a single dime of her independence.

Good for her, I wouldn't want to be beholden to someone else either.

thats a very ugly way to look at eachother as a couple.

Re: What caused the 'baby boom'? What would it take to have another?

#834

What if we just made people financially comfortable and secure again? The axis is "feed and breed" vs "fight or flight." And stop making people move away from their families for a shot at financial security. Having family around is a key expedient to raising kids, just as it has been since the dawn of time. Stop making people leave their families for return-to-office nonsense. Millennials have been through repeated p…

"Don't have kids you can't afford." Now we're shocked when people makes less babies.

[deleted]

Re: What caused the 'baby boom'? What would it take to have another?

#835

What if we just made people financially comfortable and secure again? The axis is "feed and breed" vs "fight or flight." And stop making people move away from their families for a shot at financial security. Having family around is a key expedient to raising kids, just as it has been since the dawn of time. Stop making people leave their families for return-to-office nonsense. Millennials have been through repeated p…

"Don't have kids you can't afford." Now we're shocked when people makes less babies.

[deleted]

Re: What caused the 'baby boom'? What would it take to have another?

#836
post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How fast are you popping out those kids to have more than 2 children in daycare rather than free public school?

I mean, kids start school at around 6 in the US. So one every 2 years. That's not uncommon for people who want families? Most of the folk my age with 3 kids had them within 3 or 4 years?

And it assumes you do not have twins or triplets.

Re: What caused the 'baby boom'? What would it take to have another?

#837

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't forget the parenting of extended family and neighbors - it takes a village.. But we're moving further and further from local, village-like lives.

We're also seeing baby boomers, who were raised partially by their grandparents, neglecting the role of grandparent. They live vicariously, through Facebook and video calls, and when the parents ask for them to get more involved, they're met with "I raised you, so I've done my part" Both my wife and my parents maybe see our kids twice a year, thrice if they have some other reason to come to town. And it's not an issu…

That's right. Good babysitter is more valuable then grandparents nowadays.

Same story: my mother is not involved into rising kid. But she also often asks when are we planning to have more kids. But I barely manage one child

Re: What caused the 'baby boom'? What would it take to have another?

#838
post #219

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No - being a mom and having to work full time sucks. Being a full time mom probably isn't that bad.

In many HCOL cities, for many couples, SAHM isn't a financially feasible option. Also, as a full-time mom, you’ve given up autonomy to your husband (since he controls the finances). While women can leave the relationship whenever they want, their careers often suffer, and they can’t just pick up where they left off.

But isn't both the stereotype and how it works in practice, that the man works and the woman controls the finances? I mean "housewife education" was mostly accounting.

Re: What caused the 'baby boom'? What would it take to have another?

#839

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was roaming the country and forest with the neighbor kids when we were 4. This was mid 80s.

Yes presumably those neighbour kids were a little older than 4...

They weren't. Kids are capable if you don't treat them like infants.

Re: What caused the 'baby boom'? What would it take to have another?

#840

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since what age did your kids start to go outside and play by themselves? I'm not in the UK, but in France it seems that people generally won't let their kids outside alone until they're 10 or not even then. That makes a difference of several hours of free time a week which is quite significant. Luckily people seem to be fine to leave their kids alone at home, which amounts to a few more hours of time per week. Also l…

> Also luckily there are mandatory public schools starting from the age of 3 wtf... let the kids be kids. this is totally gross and government violation of families

You say to let moms be forced to stay at home as daycare is expensive?
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