Overall, I'm more thankful than proud. At one point, I think it would have been entirely possible for me to have wanted children. I think it would have been a mistake for them and me though.
I couldn't bear to see them unhappy and, I'm pretty sure they would be. They'd have got half my ugly, pessimistic, artistic genes for a start. So, they'd likely be fairly ugly, pessimistic and arty. All bad traits in this world. Coupled with an upbringing that puts emphasis on being polite and respectful of others (Similar to my upbringing,) which means they'd likely get trampled all over. And, I'd be have to be hiding how unhappy I am all the time to try and prevent them realising. I think we all dodged a bullet there!
In terms of smug, pride. To an extent- honestly- yes. I'm glad from an environmental point of view that I haven't brought another consumer/polluter here. Morally wise- yes too. I put so much value on choice. Being antinatalist is very much aligned with being pro-choice I think. Having children is making the most colossal choice there is for another being. Worse- knowing that once it's here, it's a complete crapshoot as to whether it will want to be and even worse- it will be an enormous struggle for it to leave. That doesn't seem like a very fair thing to do to something you supposedly 'love'.
Of course- I've come to that cynical view via my own negative experience of life. But that's my point really- for me in particular- what are the chances my child would be an optimist?!! With my genes and my upbringing of it? So for me and them- definitely the best outcome I think. For everyone else though- that's up to them. I just hope for their child's sake they were right!
