My most universal case for having kids

Plus: 'Letters to a Future Saint,' face scans at the airport, and more

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1. A take I haven’t written elsewhere

My most universal case for having kids

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I watched the Steve Martin documentary (pleasant, if you like that sort of thing) on Apple TV+ this week and was struck by how much of the second half amounted to an apology for family generally and having children specifically.

I’ve been surprised to find almost zero discussion of this online, especially given how inescapably clear the movie makes the point in its final moments. “Having kids, I think, is the biggest door you ever walk through in life,” a voice (maybe Martin Short, not sure) says as the camera pans to a sketch of Martin with his wife and daughter. “You know, you go from being a ship out on the seas of the world to suddenly being a harbor in the port for someone else. You sort of know your role.”

Then Martin returns for a brief, affirmative last line: “It’s just … home.”

This reminded me of a case for having kids I recently made to some friends who have been fence-sitting about children for years. It’s probably the most broadly relevant case I’ve got, a case I think can be compelling even if you don’t think about the world the way I do—if you don’t share my faith or politics or tastes.