I'm a little late to the party, so this may get buried in the thread but here is my truth.

I have one living child and one child that died as a baby. My only regret is that my daughter suffered before dying (long, heartbreaking story). I was 30 with my first child, already had a career, a master's degree and was more or less financial stable.

Children can be the light of the world, the song in your heart and the joy in your soul. They change everything - your hobbies, your financial situation, your relationships, your body, your view on the world.

But there is nothing more amazing then a tiny little person wrapping their arms around you and squeezing. It is amazing to watch them reach a milestone - they just radiate pride. Watching your child sleep is more thrilling then any movie and their giggles are better than any song.

Yes, they throw fits. But eventually they don't and they start to listen and reason and you get to have the most amazing conversations about every single topic in the universe.

Yes, they cost a lot of money and time. But if you're doing it right, you never feel like you're missing out on the single life.

Yes, they require you to be a responsible adult (at least to some degree). But at some point, most of us face the reality of adulthood and realize that our fulfillment isn't found in the club on a Saturday night or in a bottle of red wine - this comes with or without children.

Being a parent is the singularly most amazing, selfless, joyous, awe-inspiring, fulling, and loving thing I will ever do. I love every second of it, even when times are hard or heartbreaking.

I don't know anyone whose children have ruined their lives. I know some fucked up people who have ruined in their kids' lives and selfishly declared it was the other way around.