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Comment by christophilus | Hacker News Reader

My parents had three kids while living on a single salary that put us below into the poverty line for the first half of my childhood. I had a very happy childhood. Everything I had (even my underwear!) was a handmedown.

I’m not saying it’s easy, but it’s possible. It’s a matter of priorities. I’m glad my parents made the hard choices they did.

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The point is people watched their parents struggle to raise kids and decide they aren't going to do that to themselves or their hypothetical kids.

There is more to do in a life than work and raise children.

This comment is spot on IMHO -- yes, of course it is possible. But it isnt desirable for many of us who went thru it.

I similarly grew up at the poverty line as my parents got crushed by double-digit inflation. Based on personal experience, I didnt want the same for my kids -- so we have 2 though we'd love to have 4.

Every single parent I'd wager that made those sacrifices and raised their family would tell you it was the best thing they ever did and that they'd do it again. If you've never been a parent you can't possibly understand it at all.

I am currently a parent and still don’t understand it.

Why risk one medical bill ruining everyone’s life?

They aren’t that cute.

That's a terrible situation unique to US - but lack of children is not unique to the US, so there must be more to it.

Yeah you're ignoring a lot of people's realities to swallow that propaganda so voraciously.

This is the reason that we tell ourselves, but it isn't the reason why we stop having kids. If it were, the human race would have died out millenia ago.

The point is why should parents risk lowering their living standard under the poverty line?

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