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Having kids won’t make you happier, but a fulfilling job will.

Well, according to most South African women, that is.

This must be the best news I’ve heard in a long time: there is no significant link between having children and being happy. (I think it’s mostly because women who don’t have children don’t know what they’re missing and women who do have children can hardly give them back if they’re not happy, so it’s like comparing apples with bananas.)

Why is this good news for me? Well, I’m nowhere near getting married and even further from having kids.

Although it’s not a big deal, it has bothered me just a little bit in the past. I mean, my ovaries are eventually going to dry up, which means that I need to have kids before that happens, right? Because that’s the “normal” thing to do, right? And kids will make me happy, right? Right?
Wrong.

The Female Nation Survey once again proved (like in previous years) that there’s no connection between happiness and being a parent.
But wait there’s more. Having a fulfilling career does significantly impact your happiness levels. Among the women that took part in the survey, 66% of those with a fulfilling job said their happiness levels were between 7-9. Only 56% of those who don’t have a fulfilling job, however, rated their happiness around level 7-9.

A shocking fact, however, is that almost 40% of women believe that having kids will hamper career growth – BUT this 40% consisted mostly of women who didn’t have kids, and were over 40. And that makes sense, doesn’t it? If you decided not to have kids and focus on your career, and you’re surrounded by women who are constantly juggling family life and their jobs, then you’ll probably be very glad you made the decision not to procreate. And luckily for you, it seems you’re just as well off.

Personally I actually do want kids one day and I believe they will make my life better. But in the mean time, I’m glad my career will do.


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