Here is the thing: If you have kids, it is an irreversible decision. So unless you are an absolute monster, every parent HAS to convince themselves that their little sperm-sculpture is "worth it." They HAVE to believe there is meaning in the incredibly painful, stressful, and soul-sucking act of raising children. It's like a form of self-administered brainwashing or Stockholm Syndrome. If parents honestly admitted to themselves how shitty it is to be a parent, they would either go insane or abandon/kill their kids.

This is why they lie to themselves about how "wonderful" parenting is, how noble and necessary it is to carry on the family name, and so on. And this is why it is pretty much pointless to argue about these things with parents, because the lie goes bedrock-deep and when you expose the lie you striking at the core of their reality, which they will resist with all their might.

Those of us who were wise enough to opt out of the childbearing nightmare know what we know, but don't expect to get any agreement from the parents.

That said, I will admit there seem to be people (mostly women) who honestly enjoy being parents. It must stimulate something very deep in the primal instincts. And I bet when life was simpler 100 or 1000 years ago, it was more of an unmitigated joy.