Of course, the internet couldn’t make it through another workweek without a full-blown debate — this time centered on kids, parenting, and whether having children is still worth it in today’s economy.
Rapper Baby Tate is the latest celebrity pulled into the discourse. The “I Am” artist recently became a first-time mom, welcoming her baby boy, Tate Ocean Sims, at the end of 2025. While soaking in new motherhood, Tate found herself frustrated by what she described as a growing wave of anti-child and anti-parent rhetoric circulating online.
In a now-deleted tweet, Tate responded to a post that read, “Someone woke up at 5 a.m. to get ready for work and get their child ready for school today, and will do so for the rest of the year.” The comment, meant to be tongue-in-cheek, struck a nerve with the rapper, who felt it reflected a broader trend of shaming parents for their choices.
“Someone did this for you,” Tate fired back. “I’m actually getting tired of y’all and this anti-kid, anti-parent propaganda. Like nobody is out here trying to force y’all to have kids. I don’t understand why y’all try to make people with kids feel bad about it. Let people live their lives, omg.”
As expected, social media quickly split into two camps. Supporters applauded Tate for standing up for parents and pushing back against what they see as a culture increasingly dismissive of family life. Others argued that posts like the original tweet are less about hating children and more about highlighting how exhausting and financially draining parenthood can be in the United States. And the numbers back that up. According to recent estimates, it now costs well over $300,000 to raise a child to age 18 in the U.S., factoring in housing, food, childcare, healthcare, and education — and that figure doesn’t even include college. Childcare alone has become one of the largest expenses for families, often rivaling rent or mortgage payments in major cities.
Those rising costs are one reason more Americans are waiting longer to have kids — or choosing not to have them at all. Data shows birth rates in the U.S. have steadily declined over the past decade, with many adults citing financial instability, career pressures, and lack of social support as key factors. Millennials and Gen Z, in particular, are delaying parenthood far beyond the ages their parents did.
The issue has even found its way into political conversations. Former President Donald Trump has publicly floated the idea of offering direct payments or financial incentives to encourage Americans to have children, framing it as a way to combat declining birth rates. While details have remained vague, the proposal underscores how deeply economic anxiety is shaping family planning decisions nationwide.
Still, Baby Tate’s message was clear: personal choices deserve respect on all sides. Parenthood may not be for everyone, but neither should parents be made to feel ashamed for embracing it.
In a culture grappling with rising costs, shifting values, and endless online commentary, Tate’s response served as a reminder that behind every viral tweet are real people just trying to live their lives — kids or no kids.
Let us know what you’re thinking about this one. Is there a lot of parent-shaming happening on your timeline? Get it off your chest, let us know what your thoughts below.