Well it may be instinct, but I also happen to agree with that instinct. I believe I have free will at least in the sense that I can choose whether to follow my

Well it may be instinct, but I also happen to agree with that instinct. I believe I have free will at least in the sense that I can choose whether to follow my instincts or fight them. Remember, we have many instincts other than caring for our children, and a bunch of those aren't really meaningful in today's society anymore, and a few of those actually need to be fought, and the majority of well-adapted people succeed at that just fine, because they choose to. There are other instincts we do not fight, because they align nicely with our sense of what is "good" and what is "right" (which I believe is not based on instinct), and in cases like raising children they even aid us and strengthen our resolve. Sounds like a win to me. (not a parent, btw).