The things that suck about having kids are universal - the tiredness, the continual cleaning up, the lack of time to yourself and so on.

The things that are great are largely individual and personal (face it, we all know how dull it is to listen to someone talking about their kids).

As a result the bad things get talked about disproportionately - they're things parents can bond over because you go through similar things, they are often self depreciating, can be funny (depending on your view of stories involving bodily fluids) and so on. The good things though you generally shut up about because you very quickly learn to spot the bored look when you do.

As a result from the outside I think people who don't have kids can get a skewed view of what it's really like.

Personally I'd say it's the best thing I've ever done but one that comes with a massive price tag in terms of what you have to put into it, how hard it is and what you have to give up.

No-one should tell you you should grow up and have kids - you should have kids if and when you want to - but don't take the moaning at face value. It's like a millionaire complaining about the problems that come with the money - yes they're real but you wouldn't change it, it's just letting off steam.