Having children is a beautiful thing, but it is so important, especially in today's society, to understand that kids come with responsibilities that you MUST be prepared for.
This article does not aim to shed a negative light upon having children, it does, although, stress the importance of understanding how much preparation you need to do prior to having a child.
The first thing that comes to mind is the financial implications that come with babies, but a child will take over almost every aspect of your personal life as well.
This article will provide a list of 8 reasons why you might want to rethink having a child until a little bit later in life. These points are in no particular order, NOT ordered based on importance.
Age Will Prepare You Mentally & Psychologically For A Drastic Lifestyle Change
Having a baby will change your life, and a radical lifestyle change is something that a lot of people struggle with and are simply not prepared for.
One of the best ways to prepare for a child is age, because age will equip you with the following personality traits and qualities…
- Wisdom
- Maturity
- Mental & Psychological Clarity
- Patience
In the snap of a finger, you must transition from everything being about yourself to everything being about your child. Wisdom, maturity, mental/psychological clarity, and patience all come with age and will make everything seem much more manageable.
Average Cost Of Raising A Child Is $241,080. What About Retirement?
Yes, the average cost of raising a child $241,080. Not a typo, before your child turns 18 or so, you will have paid close to $241,080 caring for them.
The main idea here is that children are a huge financial responsible that you absolutely must be prepared for. The following is a list that breaks down your biggest expenses based on the age of your child…
- 0-12 months (Infancy)- Diapers
- 12-36 months (Toddler)- Daycare
- Ages 3-5 (Pre School)- Education & Health Care
- Ages 5-10 (Elementary School)- Extracurricular Activities & Health Care
- Ages 10-13 (Middle School)- Electronics & Food
- Ages 13-18 (High School)- Sports Teams
And this is simply a broad overview. All of these are huge expenses, but it does not mean you will not have to pay for things in between.
Essentially, it is essential to make sure that you are financially stable, secure, and prepared for the massive financial responsibility that a child will bring into your life. If you are struggling to make ends meet as it is, without a child, do yourself a favor and wait until you are in a position to give your child everything that they deserve.
Adults With Kids Are More Likely To Struggle With Depression
This may seem a bit abstract, considering that so many parents report how happy their children make them, which is the way it should be. The difference is that those people waited until the right time in life to have a child. Patience will bring you happiness.
If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. If you're not prepared for a child, you are not going to give it the life it deserves, and you are not giving yourself the life that you deserve.
That sounds pretty depressing to me.
The right time will come in your life, and you will know when that arrives.
You Won't Be Able To Take Advantage Of Your Youth
Without children, you have the freedom to do what you want. Your youth should be spent making new experiences and finding your own inner happiness. If you have hobbies that you enjoy, you should pursue them. If you want to go out with friends in your free time, you should absolutely do that.
A child can change everything. You may not have enough time and/or money to keep doing the things that bring you joy with a child in your life. All of your time and energy are probably going be spent doing things like changing diapers, waking up in the middle of the night to tend to your crying baby, or cleaning up after your child. Just a few examples of the MANY responsibilities you will have.
Moving & Traveling Won't Ever Be The Same With Kids
What if your job gives you a promotion, but requires that you move to another city? Without a child, this could potentially be an easy transition that allows you to better yourself and your career.
If you have a child, although, this may not be such an easy transition. You have to consider things like daycare, added living expenses, and where they might go to school. These are just a few of the many things you have to consider, because your child and it's life is now a priority of yours.
Also, vacation will not ever be the same. It will be more expensive, and more of an overall hassle. You can't just pick up, leave, and do whatever you want. You have to consider your child and your family.
Having a child and a family can get in the way of traveling. It will never be so simple.
Waiting Gives You Enough Time To Finish Studying/Establish A Career
Before having a child, wouldn't you like to finish studying and get a degree? You can take your degree and get yourself into a career that you are passionate about.
Maybe school is not for you, although, and that is okay! You can still build yourself up and establish a career for yourself. That should be a priority. priority with or without a degree before you even consider having a child.
It is vital to have an established career that gives you financial stability before having a child.
You've Got To Be Selfish & Find Yourself In Your 20's!
Your 20's and maybe even your 30's should be spent finding yourself. If you have a child, when will you find time in your life to do the things that make you happy? As discussed before, a child can certainly bring you happiness at the right time of your life, you should also be able to achieve happiness by yourself. This makes you more of a well rounded person.
You are investing your time and your life to raising a child. Think about yourself, put yourself first, and focus on yourself!
Waiting Ensures That You Are With The Right Person
If you think you have found the love of your life and want to have child in your early 20's, you are not giving yourself much time to develop the relationship that you deserve to have. A child is a massive responsibility that can change everything between you and your partner.
Some people do not find the person that they want to spend the rest of their life with much later in life. If you have a child, you might feel like you have to commit to your partner for a long time in the best interest of your child.
While that is certainly selfless, there is nothing wrong with with waiting on children and using that time to develop a long lasting relationship. Once again, put yourself first and make sure you are in the perfect relationship and overall situation before committing to children.
Concluding Thoughts
Think about all of the priorities in your life, are you a position to devote your fro a family and children?
You've got to put yourself first! Putting yourself in the best position possible, establishing yourself both financially and personally will let you give everything that your future children and family deserve. That is a genuinely selfless act.
