I agree with a lot of points that PG makes here. There is also a key component that he didn't really mention, a precondition of having kids, which is finding th

I agree with a lot of points that PG makes here. There is also a key component that he didn't really mention, a precondition of having kids, which is finding the right partner to raise them with. While it is difficult to know how someone will bear up under the stress of raising young children, nevertheless, your partner's ability to shoulder the load with you in those first years will be crucial to your sanity and happiness. So in a sense, for someone who thinks they want to have kids, the first question to answer is: what are the characteristics of the kind of partner who will work well with you to raise a child? How do you identify them and convince them to embark on that endeavor with you?