re: Do any parents out there wish they didn't have kids?

Like others mentioned, I wish for days of silence on occasion. However, I want to applaud you for analyzing the situation like you and your fiancé have. Some people just have children because they feel the pressure from society and/or their parents, and don't think about the emotional, time, and financial commitments.

For me personally, I can't imagine life without my daughter, but I also think I got lucky. She extremely self-motivated to make straight A's in school, is athletic, a musician, and has a wonderful and funny personality which makes her popular with her peers. She also a person that marches to the beat of her own drum (i.e. not easily influenced), but I digress...

In the end, each child is approximately a $400k commitment by the end of college, so naturally, that has to be part of the equation. However, the intangible benefits and life experiences of raising a child can be more fun, adventurous, and fulfilling than any amount of vacationing or "freedom."