From Clare McEwen
As a mum of a 3-year-old boy, I was fascinated to read the article about parenting and happiness (5 September, p 40). I hadn’t stopped to consider whether I was more happy, less happy, or much the same since the birth of my son. Happiness is a tricky thing to define and even trickier to measure, with so many potential intricacies that I doubt it can be accurately assessed.
Parents, unlike non-parents, can remember what it was like before children. So we may think about things we gave up, things that we cannot do so easily now and, after a tough day, this may seem a little depressing. Those without children, generally, don’t know what they are missing, and are happier with their lot. I don’t think I am any less happy, and I would not be without the joys of being a mum, but my perception of happiness has changed.
Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK
