In the News

So, the good news, according to a Harvard professor, is that marriage can make you happier and richer, have more and more enjoyable sex, and keep you living longer. The bad news: Any kids you're raising could be seriously diminishing that happiness.

According to Professor Daniel Gilbert, the happiest that kids make you is when they're in utero or heading off to a university. In all the years between those two situations, they're bringing you down.

The article says couples "persuade themselves that their offspring are enhancing their lives" in order to "get a return on the time and money they have invested in their children."

While there's no arguing that parenthood isn't perfect, I can honestly say the best years of my life have happened since my son's birth. Watching him grow and learn and experience firsts and come up with his own opinions and evolve into his own person have been the most remarkable events of my life. I know I'm happier now than I've ever been, but perhaps these things mean nothing, and I'm just convincing myself of this so I won't think of his private preschool as too much of a loss?

If you have children, do you think they have added to or detracted from your happiness?