Yes, because we are expected to be all things and looked on as failures if we are not.  Wife, mom, sex goddess, saint, cook, maid, financial planner, gardener, therapist, etc...  Then our poor mates come along and they fail to meet their expectations to be bread winner, best friend, romantic, fab dad, etc...  No wonder everyone is so unhappy.  

Cassie, you said it perfectly.  With all that today's families have to do to maintain the "ideal" family, parents have little, if any, time to enjoy each other.  I think the article is right that things tank after the child is born.  My kids haven't hit adolescence yet, but things right now are much better in my own marriage than they were right after our kids were born.  Having kids that sleep in their own beds and can use the potty by themselves makes for much happier parents.

I had less stress in my marriage before my children were born, that's for sure.  But I'm still happier than I was as a single person.

I think the first 5 months were the hardest for us. We have yet to find out what the teenage years will be like (and we have twins).

Great, I'm due in a few days... nice to know my wonderful marriage is gonna tank.

Having kids was the worst thing that ever happened to my marriage.

Thought I would post a comment, being that I am actually married to you. I think kids complicate marriage, but don't actually ruin it. They don't have that much power. If the marriage is worth it, couples will work through the stress and try to find balance. A marriage without balance and mature communication is probably doomed with or without kids. The saying, "This too shall pass", runs through my head many times a day. It is cliche' but its true. Parents should always remember that they too ruined/complicated marriages when they were kids. Paybacks a bitch

I totally disagree with this article! We have five beautiful, loving, intelligent children by birth, and are in the process of adopting a baby from Russia. We have a wonderful marriage and our children only enhanced it. I stay home and raise my own children, and care for our home, so that frees up my husband to  come home from work and be a great dad and husband. The housework is not as some believe "slave labor", but a labor of love, and a chance to teach the children responsibility.

The taxpayers of our country should not be paying for institutionalized day care! That will only increase the unhappiness of most moms who really want to raise their own children. If anything, we should give lower taxes for families with one income, and a mom who stays home with the children.  

I also would recommend making God the center of your lives, and doing volunteer work as a family. It is hard to feel sorry for yourself when you are doing for others. This also eliminates our natural selfish tendencies, and helps the children to turn away from peer pressure.

I hope this gives hope to the lady who is about to deliver!

I, too, disagree with this article.  It is more challenging, once you have children, to make your marriage flourish, BUT God instituted marriage for the procreation of children.  So, if you don't want children then you shouldn't get married.  Yes, society makes it more and more challenging on larger families because money is the number one focus "how are you going to pay for them all to go to college"?  Believe me, the larger families don't think this way, remember, it's "society"!  Large families are such a blessing (we have five children, so far) and my children would LOVE to have another sibling!