After reading multiple reviews of Keith Richards this weekend, I was well primed for this article on Slate. (Thanks, Jeremy S.)

Shankar Vedantam explains why parents have children, despite the fact that studies show that happiness levels drop after kids arrive. Sure, the first time could might be a mistake. But then we keep having them, even after we experience diaper changing, midnight vomit sessions, and car seat struggles. Why makes us do this irrational act of producing progeny?

But when parents think about parenting, they don't remember the background stress. They remember the cuddle and the kiss. Parenting is a series of intensely high highs, followed by long periods of frustration and stress, during which you go to great lengths to find your way back to that sofa and that kiss.

We have a name for people who pursue rare moments of bliss at the expense of their wallets and their social and professional relationships: addicts.

That sweet, un-asked for kiss by a child is a high. And we kiss junkies keep pursuing that perfect moment even though the rest of the week is filled with stress.