Opening one door to a path in life may close others as Nivvie stated in some of her examples. Disregarding the irresponsible parents for a moment and disregarding the out-of-control chaotic children, it is a common enough phrase (globally) that "being a parent is the hardest and most rewarding job in the world."

For the record, at this point, ~I~ wouldn't want kids anytime soon, if ever. I'm too selfish in my desires, or something. Anyway.

As sixxx put it well enough, you go through changes and how a person reacts to these new decisions inflicted upon their lives is really only fair to be judged on a by-basis method. I agree that age does give some merit to maturity, but certainly not always so that it shouldnt be construed as just another passing stereotype.

I can see why the aforementioned quote, "...best job in the world" applies. Playing parent is the closest humans can play a sense of "God" (a God that is akin to an old man in the sky) on another, for a time. Then the rebellion stage, then the vengeful God...etc, etc...(whee!) The quote isn't intended to be perceived as a malicious thing, either. We can all recognize the Good intentions and the hopes that the child that is being raised only makes the parents' pride swell to unsurpassed amounts...

However, wasn't it the philosopher Hobbes that stated something like, "...all motives by humans are finalized by a selfish drive/desire..."

Perhaps, being a parent is a decision some people make because they feel they've failed to attain what they had dreamed of in life and so they decide to live vicariously through their children's dreams.

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps...I could go on with a few other examples, but I don't think it's needed. But, finally, as to answer the question, I don't think being a parent is on any path to enlightenment. I think it's an issue of the Nature to procreate and other than that, it's ultimately got selfish intentions, even if your parents are loving and wish you well, etc, etc, etc...(good parents are included here too, is what I mean). And of course it opens up 'secrets of life' that you couldn't learn anywhere else. There really is no other job on this planet than having the role of a "Parent." But the same applies to being "President," too. So...all in all, you can't really "have it all" and succeed, so a person who decides they want to be a parent should really (but they rarely do, in terms of the youth) understand that it IS a "life sentence" technically, cause your kids will still whine and dig into your wallets even when they're 25 with their own damn kids!

*runs around like a sperm*