I was inclined to ignore this 40 Good Reasons Not to Have Children, because none of the reasons were good. (And if it was meant to be funny, it wasn’t that either.)

But I kind of like this 40 Reasons to Have Children. There are many I would add. My niece is a walking comedian and she doesn’t know it. She spots things even at a distance that I wouldn’t otherwise see. She laughs heartily at, well, sometimes we aren’t sure what, but she has inherited a healthy Mrozek laugh. She’s two and she can sing the entire “Angels We Have Heard on High”–in July. (Yes, including the Glorias, up and down the scales.) Anyhoo. Have kids or don’t. But I tend to think the type of woman who writes up 40 sad reasons not to, including “Rat race plus rugrats: No thanks!” is probably just a bit boring–someone who is unprepared for adventure. (Unless you think the long elevator ride up to your office is one.)

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Véronique adds: Oh my. I too liked the 40 reasons to have children better. In fact, as I write, my 12 year-old on is bugging me to configure my new iPhone. Here son, knock yourself out.

I also have a couple of my own good reasons: The moment they put your newborn on your chest right after you’ve given birth. Children look much better than you do but you get all the compliments. Teenage daughters who bake. You loose “friends” when you have children. You make new friends. Real ones. With children, you have no trouble sleeping (when you get to sleep). Children make family parties more fun. When they don’t, they give you an excuse to leave early. Children force you to share dessert and that’s good for you. It is! Children force you to share and that’s also good for you. Finally, children force you to get off your butt and do something.