I was a young mom. You couldn’t force me to have a baby in this economy.

Are you planning to have children? Why or why not? Here’s what USA TODAY readers told us.

Everyone, including Elon Musk, seems to have thoughts on growing a family: If we should have kids, when we should have them, how many children we should have, and how we should raise them – not to mention how we should behave as parents. Parenthood is personal, public and political all at once – and USA TODAY readers shared a lot of opinions on the topic.

For this installment of Forum, we asked and you answered: Are you having kids? Are you not having kids? Are you concerned about the U.S.’s declining birth rate – or do you even care?

Gen Z and millennials are having fewer children – and waiting longer to have them – so it’s no surprise we heard from many of those generations. But Gen X and baby boomers also weighed in. We received responses spanning from Florida to Oregon, and we’ve published a collection below. Want to take part in our next Forum? Visit usatoday.com/forum to see our latest topic.

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I plan to have kids. But I understand why other people aren’t.

I am not concerned about the declining U.S. birth rate. And I do plan to have children.

I just like being around kids and taking care of them and thought it would be good to bring another person into the world who could enjoy life. So one day, when I’m in a good spot financially, I plan to have kids.

I understand why millennials and Generation Z are having fewer kids – if any – and waiting longer to have them. Nobody should have to have kids if they don’t want to or aren’t ready to, and in today’s economy, with today’s politics, and many of the divides in our society … it’s easy to feel it’s too dangerous for you and any potential children. And quite right for most people.

— Evie Webb, 18, Golden, Colorado

Having kids forced us to move to make ends meet

I am not concerned about the birth rate, as I have only seen growth in all of the places that I have lived or have traveled to. Former cow pastures are now subdivisions in every town. If anything, I am looking forward to more affordable housing as I hope supply catches up with demand.

I agree with those waiting or choosing not to have children. My wife and I are millennials. We have three children but were 30 years old before we had our first. The cost to raise children is very high. We were both working full-time jobs trying to make ends meet with two children in day care. Once our third child was on the way we had to make a change. We could not afford to have three children in day care. We had to move five states over to a better economy to make ends meet.

— Anthony Calderone, 36, Jamestown, North Carolina

Child care costs make me unsure if I will have children

I’m not concerned about the declining birth rate, and I’m not sure if I want to have children.

If I had free to low-cost child care and a flexible job, I would be more for it. I find it largely unreasonable to expect women to juggle a full-time job that may only give them 10 to15 vacation days with a child who’s sick more often than not in the early years. Add that to child care being at least $2,000 a month, and it doesn’t seem feasible. Living on one income to offset child care costs is hardly possible with rising costs of living.

I agree, as a millennial, with many people of my age deciding to wait or not have children. The adage is “don’t have kids you can’t afford.” If no one is helping you, and you don’t have the means, don’t have children. The second you start struggling is when wider society chimes in with “you signed up for this.”

— Essence Tillery, 33, Highland Park, Illinois

Tax the rich and birth rates will rise

I’m not concerned about the declining birth rate. I got pregnant young on accident (birth control failed). However, I would choose NOT to have children. Our economy is awful, I couldn’t imagine having a baby post 2017.

I agree with people waiting or deciding not to have children. I am not required to have a child so they can rot in a cubicle their entire adult life to keep the 1% comfortable. Tax the rich and redistribute the wealth back into the hands of the people and birth rates will rise.

— Julia Santiago, 32, Charlotte, North Carolina

Having a family brings great rewards. We should teach people that.

I am concerned about the declining birth rate. Society has become selfish and lacks any want of responsibility. We stopped teaching family values and started promoting “self over community.” We need to value family and community over ourselves.

Growing up in an extended family, I saw the value in those relationships over other outside friends. The bond is stronger and more meaningful.

I do and don’t agree with the decision to wait or even not have children. I like the idea of having time for yourself earlier in life and having experiences. Family is still better. You trade earlier experience for having the responsibility of children later in life.

— Rick Salek, 55, Littleton, Colorado