“Having kids was a mistake”

Today Explained explores the growing trend of parental regret in the United States, where declining birth rates and rising stories of regret among parents signal a deeper cultural reckoning with modern parenthood. Host Sean Ramas-Firm opens with his own ambivalence about fatherhood, then dives into a powerful feature from The Cut by Bindu Bunsinap, which profiles three anonymous young mothers who feel trapped by the expectations of motherhood. Their stories reveal a common theme: the overwhelming emotional and practical burden of raising young children, compounded by a lack of real support from family and society. Despite loving their children, they express profound regret over the loss of autonomy, identity, and freedom. The episode contrasts these narratives with insights from Jennifer Sr., author of *All Joy and No Fun*, who acknowledges the immense challenges of parenting but argues that the meaning and joy of raising children—especially the selfless love and personal growth—can outweigh the hardships. She urges parents to lighten their load and embrace imperfection, while also validating that not having kids is a legitimate and increasingly rational choice in today’s world.