Gift of Understanding

It's an oversimplification to say that "children make you a better person," but they do, or should, improve your ability to psychologically and emotionally integrate that a) you want lots of stuff, b) what you end up getting remains, no matter what, ridiculously small and inconsequential, and c) you can't control your life nearly as much as you think.

I would sooner say that these realizations are gifts which children give to us rather than calling them "selfish reasons" to have children.

- Tyler Cowen