parenting, even more than coupling, requires the core addictive feature of compulsive behavior despite negative consequences. Virtually all parents who are honest with themselves have had moments when they regret having had children—and studies of people’s daily levels of happiness find that parents actually have less of it than nonparents. This includes lower marital satisfaction, reduced overall life contentment, and less of an overall sense of mental well-being. Surprisingly, these reductions in quality of life are not only seen during the toughest times when children are at their neediest;
...more