Humans, just like all other animals, are biologically designed to want to procreate. We are designed to want to pass on our genetic material. Although only a few known animals are capable of deriving pleasure from sex, these include dolphins, primates, and humans, all animals are meant to procreate so that they can pass on their genetic material.
We do things to enhance our characteristics so that we can attract a potential mate.
Whether it be through an aesthetic body, a fancy car or a big, luxurious estate, we all want to increase certain attributes that make us more desirable to the opposite (or same) sex.
However, a recent study has emerged illustrating the benefits of NOT having kids. The study goes on to show how having a child can negatively affect certain aspects of your life from money, to sleep all the way to your sex life.
Statistically, marriages have shown to suffer and ultimately lead to divorce, after the birth of a child.
According to Bustle, they showed that 70 percent of couples experience ‘slumps’ in their relationship within the first three years of their child’s birth. This can be because couples have differing opinions on how to raise their kids, a lack of sleep and also because of stress-related issues.
In an interview with Ellen Walker in Psychology Today, she said: ‘marital satisfaction rates actually plummet after the birth of the first child. So, if a couple has the idea that a baby will bring them closer, think again.’
Furthermore, parents and couples will lose a ton of sleep after having their first child. It is estimated that within the first two years of your baby’s life, you will lose about six months of sleep.
This will amount to an average of only 2 and a half hours of sleep every night. This can lead to chronic fatigue, increased stress and a shorter temper between you and your spouse. This will also lead to a weakened immune system and will also negatively impact one’s sex life.
Moreover, having a child is also a huge burden financially. According to NBC News, having a child in America can cost as much as 13,000 dollars a year.
Stretch that out to 17 years, and parents have paid more than a quarter of a million dollars for their child! And this number does not even take into account the cost of post-secondary education. The study went on to show that if couples do have a child, their satisfaction rates only increase up to the same amount as those people who choose not to have kids.