Does having kids make us happy?

Since this is a site designed for mothers, I expect our answer will be a collective and resounding yes. That was my initial response. Of course my kids make me happy. But, do these cuddly and full of life creatures (who also happen to be constantly messy and somewhat rude) make me happier than I was before I brought them into my world?

In it’s most recent issue, Newsweek takes a look at the kids and happiness question that’s been around for a bit and points to studies that show that childless couples may indeed be more content than the parenting set. For example, according to the book “Gross National Happiness” by Arthur C. Brooks, parents are about “7 percentage points less likely to report being happy than the childless,” the Newsweek article said.

Really?

Well … really. I can sort of see that, especially right now at nearly midnight, as I type away, wondering why I couldn’t find an hour earlier in the day to get this written. Oh, I remember. It was because I was too busy taking my kids to the playground, making them a picnic lunch, letting them pick out extra movies for our trip out of town, playing a computer game with my son, and taking them swimming at the pool, before I made dinner and started the night routine. Not that I’m bitter, because it was a fun day, but it was a day, like the rest, devoted to my children. As a parent, time for me usually comes at the end of the day, when my mostly sweet time-sucking babies are asleep.

I haven’t looked at the actual studies mentioned in the article, and I probably should before commenting, so I’ll stick to the broader question of whether kids make us happy.

Yes, there are times when the happiest parts of my day are when I’m alone with a book, or a movie, or on the computer, but that’s because I’ve spent the entire day with my kids and just like a little break. My husband makes me happy too, but that doesn’t mean I want to spend every waking hour with him.

There are also lots of times when I reminisce about the “old” days, the days when my husband and I could dine leisurely at a restaurant, sleep in until 11 a.m., or go for a jog or a drink (or both) after work because it didn’t matter if we didn’t eat dinner until 8 p.m. And, yes, I get stressed out when I think about how buying four gallons of milk a week affects my budget now and how two college tuitions will really break the bank.

But I knew what I was getting into when I signed up for motherhood. While it took some adjusting, I believe I’m definitely getting my money’s worth. My children, like yours, can be creative and silly and smart and loving all at once, without even trying. Yesterday, for instance, nothing made me laugh harder than listening to Guillermo giggle when he tried to scare me by sneaking up behind me in his ninja costume, and when I say costume, I mean an orange bandana that covered nearly his whole face, except his eyes. “Yikes,” I screamed and Guillermo couldn’t control his laughter. “I’m a ninja,” he shouted.

Thirty minutes later, my heart melted when I watched him bow and kiss Maya when she happily showed off her new satin nightgown and robe. “You look like a princess, Maya,” Guillermo told his beaming younger sister.

Sure, there are days when it doesn’t feel so great to be a parent. “You never pay attention to me,” my son cried at me tonight. That hurt. But, until I had children, I never knew you could love anyone this much and if that doesn’t bring you happiness, I’m not sure what can.

Natalie appears every Sunday on TriangleMom2Mom. Read more about Natalie at her blog A Day at the Park.