Our modern world has a strange perspective on children. For most of human history, they have been considered a blessing. The arrival of children was accompanied by great joy. They meant security for parents in old age. Lots of children were a sign of a healthy and growing population. They meant the promise of a productive workforce and the creation of wealth. In short, children were a blessing.

But something has changed in the last few decades. A different perspective has taken over, mostly in the Western world. Unwanted pregnancies are now often seen as an obstacle to the happy life. Especially for those having sex outside of marriage, pregnancy can just be seen as a complication, not a joy.

But even for those who want children, who love their children, what starts out as a series of coos and smiles and snuggles, someday, somehow can turn into a series of overwhelming burdens. Raising children is a challenge. Children can frustrate you and disappoint you. Even with the best intentions, some parents can wonder, where did I go wrong? Where is all this conflict coming from? How did this blessing become a curse?

These are important questions and worth pursuing. How CAN the arrival of children go from being one of the greatest blessings of life to a curse? Or, at least what feels like a curse? We’ll seek to answer those questions today on Tomorrow’s World.