Agreed... I remember a study on “do kids make you happier” and their conclusion was “kids make you happier if you want kids”.. people who didn’t want kids but had them or wanted kids but couldn’t have them were sadder, but people who didn’t want kids and didn’t have them were just as happy. Which I guess makes sense... people are happy when they get what they want!
Sure I could have rephrased it along the lines of "you have the invaluable blessing of children, and surely that's more important than a 15% pay rise?".
Your edit got under my skin way more than your comment did.
Kiss of death seemed melodramatic at best though. Every CEO, CTO, and CFO I've worked with had kids. Guess they were the lucky few who didn't have their professional career ruined by those goblin children?
Only if you care personally for the kids. Pick up a history book, filled with famous persons who had lot's of kids, but they were raised by family and staff.
Maybe to someone who isn’t ambitious or intelligent but personally, I’d rather write a great book or make great software. I believe, like Proust, that art is how you reach immortality.
What’s dumb is to tell people you’re better than Proust because you popped out some brats.
That's a pretty insulting statement for those of us who can't have / don't want children.
It's not a competition. We've chosen different paths than you. Not worse, just different.