Welcome to capitalism Gillian,

I have to say I agree with your article. As a married man about to hit 30, I have absolutly no desire to have kids, precisly for the reasons you state. Who wants to spend the next 20 years feeling guilty, and wondering if all your kids' probelms are your fault.

It would take either a seismic shift in society, or the government to implement real family-friendly policies for anything to change.

And then along comes the government and tells everyone they have to pick their super provider, which takes time and energy to think about, and that they can have unlimited choice of schools (as long as they have money) which also takes time, energy and provokes more uncertainty and anxiety. Public school parents are mean't to work out what their school needs and find time to put in a submission to the Fed Govt to get the money for it. And it takes 10 precious minutes in the supermarket to work out which shampoo conditioner it was your bloody teenager wanted. .. and that's just off the top of my head.
We don't need any more choice, we need less.
All this personal responsibility and deregulation is all very well, but who the hell do they think is sitting around with time on their hands just waiting for more chores that need doing?
We're supposed to be working longer hours, taking more responsibility at work and at home, and spending more time being good parents....well, something's gotta give, and, by and large, it's the decision to be a parent at all.

The main difference 'today' is that we are 'burdened' by enormous choice. Much more choice than our parents and their parents over 50 years ago. They didn't have any of the modern conveniences we have today. Simple stuff like washing machines, fridges and cars. Nor the lifestyle choice. Nor the expansive social services we enjoy today. Plus they had a couple of world wars to live through.

We are 'victims' of choice. The so-called guilt is hardly new to this generation. l suspect it is an eternal affliction of parenthood.

Its not about HAVING enough time, its about MAKING the time. We all got the same 24 hrs in a day. How we use it is our choice. If wedont like our choices, then we can change them.

People have always judged status based on one's job description, address, car you drive, clothes you wear. That is hardly new.

This article didn't really say much more than the usual 'it is oh so difficult and its harder now.' The same lament of every generation. The same lament that invites ridicule and scorn from our parents that we are soft (in mind and body).

'There is nothing new under the sun.' Although the people under it are different and think that what they are experienceing is unique.

We are like kids in a 2 acre warehouse candy store complaining that we dont have enough time to try all the goodies. And that the constant gluttony is making us sick.