>but I'm not sure what the alternative should be.

A village where trusted neighbors and family members and a chain of kids in increasing ages can help look after each other.

Unfortunately, can't have that in a society that requires workers be mobile to chase wherever the next gig job appears. Can't form trust bonds with neighbors when you gotta move every few years.

I mean, we COULD just yield our kids to be raised by the state in pens by minimum-wage strangers and/or robots, I guess…