Jen0125 posted...
I think it's the opposite. Misery loves company. They want everyone to have tied down lives full of responsibility directed at others. A lot of parents are absolutely miserable with their decisions but don't feel safe to say so. So they want everyone else to be as miserable as them.
I hate to use the word jealousy ever but from personal experience a lot of parents are jealous of people who have all the free time in the world and freed up finances to do fun things instead of sending Johnny to soccer camp or getting Annie's tonsils out.
I've met more unhappy families than happy ones, anecdotally.
I could see this being true, as well When they see another couple who has more money and free time to do stuff like taking a vacation on a whim, or buying something expensive on impulse, they realize that they cant do that because they have kids and stuff