A recent study surveyed over 1,000 adults and found that 34% of those studied wanted to have more children. After all, as the saying goes, being a parent is the best job, or is it?
Here we break down the advantages and disadvantages of being a parent. That way, you can decide if you want to have a child.
Read on to learn the pros and cons of having kids:
Pros
Having a child is a one-of-a-kind experience that’s often heartwarming and beautiful. Below, we’ve explained the three common pros of parenting:
You Can The World Through Someone Else’s Eyes
When you have a child, you can see the world differently. You get to experience a number of their firsts as they grow and become educated and strong individuals. You’ll be able to watch the kindness and acceptance they feel for others develop over the years into year-long friendships and loving partnerships.
Seeing your child grow up and develop their values is a magical experience that can inspire you to question your beliefs. Having a child makes you see situations from a different perspective which can prove insightful and heartwarming.
You Grow Up and Learn How to Be a Better Person
Having a child can be challenging, but it helps you grow and learn to be a better person. When you become a parent, you are now responsible for someone else and, as a result, may not be interested in the same things as you once were.
For instance, you may not want to go on a spontaneous road trip or stay up till two a.m. on a weekday. As you become a parent, you grow to like and want different things. You even learn how to be more patient, accepting, and empathic, making you a good parent and a better person.
Raising Children Can Help You and Your Partner Become Closer
Not all couples experience this benefit, but that doesn’t mean it’s untrue. When two individuals who are physically and emotionally capable of raising a child come together, their love for one another deepens.
Parenting can strengthen the bond of a healthy relationship furthering communication, respect, and love. For instance, you grow a deeper appreciation for what your partner does for you, your relationship, and your child. That type of appreciation and respect promotes a healthy family dynamic, ensuring your child has a safe and loving home.
Cons
While becoming a parent has many advantages, it also has several downsides. To help you decide if the pros outweigh the cons, we’ve listed the common disadvantages of having kids below:
Raising a Child Is Expensive
There’s no way around it; raising a child is expensive not only for the short term but long term as well. Even before the child is born, you’ll need to pay for doctor’s visits to ensure you’re healthy and physically capable of carrying a child. If you’ve had your tubes tied in the past, you’ll need to visit your doctor to determine how successful is tubal reversal and its total costs.
Then at the baby stage, you’ll need to pay for food, diapers, clothes, furniture, toys, and books. As the child grows, so do the expenses; there are childcare, school, medical, and extracurricular expenses you’ll need to think about. Studies show the cost of raising a child has risen and is now estimated at a whopping $310,000.
Note that the estimated cost is calculated from when the child is a newborn to seventeen. It does not include college expenses or additional financial assistance parents give to help their children as they transition into adulthood.
Therefore, the average amount is quite larger than anyone realizes. Being a parent isn’t cheap, so if you’re questioning whether you want to have a baby, ask yourself if you can financially afford to raise a child.
You’ll Be In A Consent State Of Worry
As a parent, you’ll naturally worry about your child’s safety, happiness and if your parenting techniques are working or hurting them. Parents routinely ask themselves:
- Am I doing the right thing?
- Am I pushing them enough or not enough?
- Are they safe?
- Are they healthy?
- Am I helping by telling them the truth, or should I lie?
The worry never stops; even as kids grow into adults, the worry will change to reflect where the child is in their life. For example, parents may wonder:
- Are they happy with their job, partner, or overall life?
- Are they being safe?
- Is the path she/he is on my fault?
- Am I to blame for my child’s insecurities?
These worries can lead to physical discomfort, promoting insomnia, loss of appetite, and anxiety. Becoming a parent comes with a large amount of responsibility and, as such, can be emotionally and physically draining.
Your “You” Time Will Be Reduced
Once you have a child, your “you” time will decrease significantly. It’s only natural as you have to be responsible for your child and consider what’s in the best interest of him and her.
However, it can be hard not to lose yourself in the process. Balancing your wants and needs with the wants and needs of your child will always be a difficult struggle.
For instance, you may have to turn down a job promotion to be with your kids or have less of a social life because of your work and family needs. You might even have to withhold buying items for yourself to afford your child’s necessities.
Finding your identity while being a parent is a difficult challenge many parents face. Keep in mind how such a challenge will affect you if you become a parent.
Pros and Cons of Having Kids: Explained
Having a child shouldn’t be an impulse decision. You should consider the pros and cons of having kids to determine whether you’re ready to raise one.
Child rearing takes a village, so if you decide to have a baby, build up your support system so you have people to lean on in hard times. For more information about pregnancy tips or parenting advice, visit our blog today.
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