Very interesting subject.
Not everyone needs to have kids these days. Things in 2014 are far different than even 50 years ago. Before, like you said, a man and a woman would get married. They would have children. The children would help their parents - sons would help outside with farmwork and daughters would help indoors with cooking and cleaning. All that stuff.
But nowadays, that doesn't happen. We don't NEED kids. Yes, obviously people need to keep reproducing.
My boyfriend and I have both agreed that we don't want kids. We are both much more career driven and we also both hate kids (no offence intended, just different lifestyles). Those that want a more typical lifestyle will continue having kids. My parents had two kids (my sister and I) and they said they only wanted two because they wanted to basically put two people into the world as they are two people - so that they aren't participating in increasing or decreasing the population. I'm not too worried about decreasing the population as lots of people have 3+ kids.
One reason that a lot of people have kids is fear of getting older and needing to be cared for. But, logically speaking, we will save a heck of a lot of money by not having kids and will be able to get care when we're old. I dunno. I know there are tons of other reasons. Some people have maternal instincts or whatever that is. Clearly I don't understand it completely.
Edit: Although, I'll be honest, I am a bit disappointed that my genetics will not be carried on. I don't mean to come off as overly conceited, really. But my boyfriend and I are both pretty successful, attractive, intelligent, decent people, etc. It'd be pretty good. I don't understand 100% how genetics work but having some pretty good genes would be helpful. But we simply don't want kids so oh well. Lots of other successful, attractive, etc. people out there
