The institutions (principally social) that made having kids not maddeningly difficult have eroded. When I see the contortions my friends make to raise kids it makes me shudder. When I contrast that with what I remember when I was growing up, where the kids were sort of the communal 'property' of the neighborhoods, it makes me sad, both for the kids (who have far more atomized lives) and their parents (who shoulder this weight by themselves.)

I know everyone around here hates the state and wants to live wild and free in an ancap wonderland, but it would be interesting to know how things are shaking out in countries that provide a lot more support for childcare and child-friendliness in various ways. I know nothing about this, so perhaps someone can educate me. My default is to think that the Scandinavian countries would be good places to look, but perhaps there are others.