[carsongross]

No mention of children, until we get this: "maddening children who kill the passion from which they emerged".

This solipsistic, navel-gazing age can't die fast enough.

[rudolf0]

What point are you making? That children can't somehow add additional stress to a relationship?

[carsongross]

That this is a solipsistic, melodramatic and, ultimately, immature analysis of marriage.

[rudolf0]

Could you elaborate? What is solipsistic or even melodramatic about it?

[civilian]

+1 looking for elaboration. I mostly agree and want to know your reasons!

[the_af]

I don't think the author is arguing against having children. He seems to be arguing against a passion-driven, romantic ideal of what a relationship is which doesn't account for noisy children and which usually ends in deep disappointment. He seems to be arguing for a more pragmatic view (he calls it "pessimistic") which may enable us to get more out of our actual, non-idealized relationships.

[ProAm]

You're going to be waiting for a long, long time.