I just found this topic, and I dont care it's old, Ima gonna reply!

Reasons to have children (of the egoistic type):

• to keep your name going, as well as your genes.
  
  For some strange reason this means something to me.  I mean, we're all just sand on a beach, water in a river, small bits of plastic floating in the ocean.  Kids kind of immortalize you.
• to have someone to take care of you and visit you when you're really old.
  
  Think about it, who'll visit you when you're obnoxious, half deaf and living in some old peoples home?

Other then that, it's a lot of work, although it hardly ever feels like 'work'.  You do miss out on stuff, especially when your spouse is opposed to having your 20 month old kid stay over at other people for the night -_-  On the other hand, you don't know what it is to unconditionally love and be loved (well, Idunno, untill they're at least 8 or something?) if you don't have kids.  You can have the shittiest day at work, but when you come home and your kid runs towards you yelling 'dad', as only little children can, all is right in the world.