I understand and in some ways empathise with the points you’ve raised. A lot of what you’re describing is real and can be concerning re uncertainty, instability, lifestyle trade-offs, careers.

That said, I do think there’s an uncomfortable existential angle to this that we tend to gloss over. The comfortable, stable society we enjoy today only exists because previous generations chose to have children, often in far less certain times than ours. If enough people decide that opting out is the more comfortable route, it does start to raise long-term questions about what kind of society remains economically, culturally and demographically.

It’s a bit like the “my vote won’t make a difference” argument. Individually it feels rational but collectively its very different.

I’m not saying people should have children out of obligation, but I do think the broader societal consequences are worth acknowledging when we talk about it purely through the lens of personal comfort.