Of course, this is purely anecdotal. But generally, parents tend to behave more responsibly than nonparents in ways that enhance the overall quality of life. They're less likely, for instance, to drive recklessly. Working mothers, and fathers who are hands-on caregivers, nearly always lose out on pay and promotions. One study of men and women with MBA degrees in the early 1990s found that while the childless women, single and married, earned only about 4 percent less than the men, the wage gap for mothers grew to more than 20 percent.
Parenthood certainly has great rewards as well as hardships.
But there's nothing wrong with some societal recognition of the sacrifices parents make, or some societal effort to make things easier for those who have undertaken this difficult job. Cover up with a Salon T-shirt this summer. See how one stutterer speaks volumes on the football field. A Poet Speaks Hear the story of a Poet Laureate's trip to Africa. Volunteers are helping to make them feel safe.