Why parents need children

We all know children need parents. Otherwise they wouldn't be born. None of us would have been born. Parents also care for, teach, and instill values in their children. Being a parent is a lot of work--often unappreciated, emotional and physical work. So why do people have children?

Because sometimes when a man and woman have sex, a baby is created.

Because that's the best way to learn what you put your own parents through.

Because in order to learn selflessness, you have to love someone more than yourself.

Because other than being married to my husband, the births of each of my five children are the most beautiful moments of my life.

Because when we die, someone will remember that we lived.

Because the only person you can control in this life is yourself. Children teach you that from the second they enter this world on their own schedule, that first sleepless night, as an 18 month-old that tells you no, a five year-old who lies about the gum he took from his sibling,  a second grader who doesn't want to return to school, a 10 year-old who hides dirty clothes behind her bed, and a teenage daughter who refuses to talk to her teacher about a failed test. Yes, as a parent I've had it pretty good. Though eighteen years ago when my 2 year-old daughter dumped out an entire box of cold cereal after I told her to put it back, I didn't know how I'd survive let alone teach my children.

Because as your children grow, learn, accomplish, and become independent beings with unique talents and abilities, you feel lucky to have in a small way participated in their success. Because as they make decisions for themselves and grow from those good and bad decisions, you feel a tiny portion of our Heavenly Father's love and concern for each of us.

Because, as we learn from Eve in ancient scripture translated by Joseph Smith, "Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient" (Moses 5:11).

Because children are a joy.