why they're a good idea

Kids I mean.

Two families near and dear to us have lost their Dads in the last few weeks. Both the gentlemen were elderly, and sick, these were not shock departures, but that doesn't make them any less tragic.

They've both left beloved widows, women they'd married young and loved for well over 40 years. Both families had kids - three and four respectively. All these kids are grown, married, some have children of their own.
All these sad and bereft offspring have gathered round their mothers, round each other, and from both families countless stories have emerged of love, loss, humour, support.

The support. Legal, financial, logistical, emotional. The widows have had daughters sharing their beds, sons making difficult calls, son-in-law's cooking, daughters-in-law executing wills, grandchildren distracting them, giving them the daily reminder that life goes joyfully on.

This is not the only reason having children is a damn good idea. But it's one of the strongest arguments I've heard recently.

And I'll make a point of remembering it on those days.