I just saw an episode of Bones that dwelled quite extensively on procreation. One of the things I really appreciate about Dr. Brennan is that she consistently makes arguments I’ve made (at least to myself) before.

Among other pithy observations, she points out that having children is irrational, and that the magic feeling of having a child is really just the serotonin (though, to be fair, she probably should’ve said oxytocin).

Unfortunately, like all American moving pictures, sentimentality must win in the end, and this episode is no exception; it ends with an “aww, wouldn’t it be nice to have a kid” moment.

I’m also reading Our Inner Ape (which is much, much better than Primates and Philosophers). Dr. de Wall points out that whomever can’t get it up to pass on their genes, regardless of the cost, doesn’t make it into the next generation, thus leading to the present it-costs-more-than-it’s-worth scenario.

The thing for me, though, is that I’ve already got the feeling that I’ve jumped the shark; from little things like being cranky that kids these days can’t seem to spell worth a damn to the pervasive sensation that my body has started its long slide into senescence… if this were a game I’d’ve hit the reset button long ago.

Now, I’m not complaining, mind you; by just about any measure, I live one of the most privileged lives this miserable ball of rock has to offer.

Mostly it’s that I’m just recently climbing out of some problems that have dogged me for as long as I can remember, and I can’t help but wonder what it would’ve been like if I could’ve gotten over some of this nonsense earlier, or if I would’ve even had these problems had I grown up in a more enlightened environment.

For me, that’s one of the big things that makes the apparent negative ROI of reproducing worthwhile: not to live vicariously through my children, but simply to give someone the opportunity to grow up in an environment of respect and care for their emotional and intellectual well-being.