[mcphage]

Because kids are awesome. It's great to watch them grow, and learn, and discover joy in the world. And watching them experience things for the first time brings back the happiness you felt when you first experienced those same things.

Raising them can be challenging, but kids themselves are great. "What's in it for me" isn't really a great question, though, since it's not about you.

[agent008t]

It obviously is about 'you', given that the children in question do not exist yet.

[mcphage]

The original question was—"what are the benefits to having children"... specifically, "what are the benefits [to me] to having children". That's what I'm responding to. "What do I get out of it" isn't the best way to evaluate having kids. You get something out of it, sure, but... it kinda misses the forest for the trees.

[sforza]

LOL. Indeed choosing to having children is arguably the most selfish decision one can make in their life.