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20 reasons having kids isn’t for everyone right now

Whitney Houston once sang that children are our future. While that is true, not everyone is interested. Some want to focus on themselves and their lives, like Seth Rogen. The actor once told Howard Stern, "I wouldn't be able to do all this work that I like." Focusing on one's career is one of the many reasons why many people are aligning themselves with Rogen and his wife's choice not to spawn. Whether it's based on something serious or something more frivolous, these are why people choose not to have kids right now.

1 of 20

Housing costs

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Whether people are renting or buying, the cost of housing has reached the point that many can barely afford to live in a single studio, let alone a space equipped to house a family.

2 of 20

Bad behavior

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Back in the day, it was easier to monitor how much screen time kids had because it was either a shared television or a computer. Now, everyone has a screen in their pocket at all times, and there is no telling what level of bad behavior children are seeing daily. This then influences them to act like fools instead of having actual respect for their elders.

3 of 20

Job market woes

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There are “Now Hiring” signs everywhere, but the issue comes with the pay. Most companies are not paying their employees enough to cover a single person's essential cost of living, let alone an adult and a child or children.

4 of 20

Grocery prices

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Once you reach adulthood, you’re lucky if you have two meals a day — let alone three. Kids really do need to eat several times a day to help them grow and stay healthy, but with the cost of food, eating that much is just not something many can afford.

5 of 20

Kids' YouTube is annoying

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I'm not calling out any one particular YouTuber, but while the likes of LeVar Burton and Mister Rogers had charm, those making kids' programming via the internet are just not it.

6 of 20

Wanderlust

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Traveling should always be stress-free. Need we say more?

7 of 20

Climate change

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Greta Thunberg, and those like her, ain’t working around the clock to try and spread awareness for nothing.

8 of 20

Medical bills

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Even those with health insurance face eyebrow-raising bills when they go to the doctor. With the number of visits kids need between school entrance exams and common mishaps like broken bones, it adds up fast.

9 of 20

They don’t play right

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It’s disheartening for people who spent their entire childhoods outside to grasp the reality that kids today just want to be inside with their Roblox.

10 of 20

Pets are easier

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People, especially millennials, are choosing to become paw-rents instead of parents because animals are cheaper and, in many cases, they’re better behaved, require less attention, and never fail to provide unconditional love.

11 of 20

Safety concerns

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Just look up the No. 1 cause of death when it comes to children in the US.

12 of 20

Adults aren’t okay

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Mental health has slowly become less and less taboo to talk about openly, and there are plenty of safe spaces to do so. Still, with everything from the uncertainty of a country to stress about everyday life, a lot of people who can have children don’t feel mentally prepared to help guide a child through life when they can barely manage their day-to-day.

13 of 20

Fast food ain’t cheap

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“We have food at home” finally has some major weight because the cost of eating out, even for what was typically the “cheap” option, has gotten out of hand.

14 of 20

Too many want to be influencers

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Some people don’t want to raise someone who dreams of being the next Logan Paul, and that’s quite okay — and 100% understandable.

15 of 20

Politics

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Someone needs to try turning the US government off and on again. Maybe that’ll fix everything.

16 of 20

Their wants are a lot

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During the holidays, many parents shared what their kids wanted, which was pricey. No longer was a bike a big ticket item. Today's kids request lavish skin creams, Stanley Cups, and other gadgets that aren't for those with shallow wallets.

17 of 20

Social media

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The internet is the double-edged sword of the 21st century. It offers so much, but it’s also taken away a lot of mental sanity from many, including kids. Yes, one could raise their kids without devices, but if something is popular, kids will find a way to get to it.

18 of 20

Just not for them

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The most valid reason is simply not wanting kids. Parenting isn’t for everyone, and it’s better to know that before one brings a child into this world than after.

19 of 20

2020’s lasting effects

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Living through unprecedented events has become a regular occurrence, but 2020 (hopefully) took the cake and brought a lot of undesirable facts about people and the surface. So much so that many couldn’t fathom bringing a child into a world that felt so bleak.

20 of 20

Beyoncé tickets

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When Beyoncé tours, it is not cheap, and one does not want to choose between little league fees and a ticket to see a living legend.

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