I doubt that the *choice* to become a parent was nearly as hard as actually *being* a parent, because no matter how many friends and colleagues had kids, you almost certainly couldn't have guessed how hard it would actually be when you made the choice. A few days after my boy was born, I called my folks and said "Sorry, and thanks." I liken it to seeing the world in color. You can tell all your child-less monochromatic friends how wonderful and rich the blue sky and green grass are, but unable in their black-and-white world to even imagine what you're talking about, they say "uh, sure, sounds nice", shrug, and head off to the dance club.