A different view from one engaged in parenting 3 boys (11, 9, 6):

Having kids is very little fun. It is work. But helping new people to be the best people they can be is fulfilling, joyful work.

We're having one of our roughly weekly sleepovers tonight where we all spread out cots on the family room floor. (Everyone falls asleep before me, and so sometimes I make my way online). I like this time because we have a long talk about the world as they get sleepy and settled. Now I hear all these people I deeply love breathe and shift and sleep and feel contentment. Tomorrow there will be problems to solve. As they grow older, the problems become less frequent... and more complicated.

I sure hope they continue to be a big part of my life in their adulthood, but that's not exactly why one does it.