Question the Wisdom

theatlantic:

The Secret to Happier Parents Is Doing Less:

…parenting should thrive in an age of austerity, says Bryan Caplan, an economics professor at George Mason University, and author of the new book Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids: Why Being a Parent Is Less Work and More Fun Than You Think.

The secret joy of being a parent, Caplan argues, comes from understanding the limited liability of parenting. Studies have found that child-rearing is, if you can believe it, a little overrated. In surveys of twins raised together and apart, behavioral scientists consistently found that nature overpowered nurture in almost all categories, from character and intelligence to happiness and health. Once you accept that bad parenting won’t always keep your kids from being great (and good parenting might not make a difference!), it’s easier to relax and enjoy the state of being a parent.

If the seeds of a good person are sown in a child’s DNA, it follows that parents are probably paying too much to improve their children. Caplan suggests that parenting doesn’t have to be so expensive. Kids don’t need the latest gizmos or the ceaseless, and expensive, attention we provide them. You can easily raise a great kid on a modest budget.

Caplan suggests marginal improvements in four areas — sleep, discipline, activities, and supervision - would ease the emotional and financial costs of parenting. Parents typically lose “three years of sleep per child,” Caplan says.

Read the rest of the story at The Atlantic.