Money and Family Size April 11, 2008
I read an article last weekend in USA Weekend considering how times have changed when it comes to the financial status of large families. It really resonated with me because I would love to have another child but it would be a bit irresponsible now. We are pretty cramped in a bedroom in my parent’s house. It would not be fair to anyone to bring another person into the house. We’re paying rent, though less than average for the area to help out while we live there and need to be on steadier ground to afford a place of our own - house or apartment.
In the article it talked about how in the past, lower income families were known for having many children because they could bring in extra income (before compulsory childhood education) or perhaps because there was no [access to] contraceptives. Now it seems families who struggle financially are making wiser choices to scale down on family size in order to have more resources available for each person’s needs. The financially wealthy however, have plenty of resources and feel free to increase their family size and share what is hopefully the joyful luxury they live in.
While I was trying to find the link for the USA Weekend article, I came upon something similar in the Times Online, an online UK and world news source. Their article admonished the poor in the UK to consider doing what the previous article claimed is being done in the USA, consider what you have to provide to your offspring before you bring children into the world.
It is wise advice and it is something we are doing. Both Tim and I grew up in comfortable households and I imagine expected, or at least hoped to have that ourselves. We’re young, and slow starting out but whatever kind of life we lead, I know it will be full of joy. I believe that whatever the reason is that I cannot see, God has a plan for us. It has always been my dream to have a family, of at least two children, and I believe it will happen at the right time for us. For now I will be thankful for the generosity and love our families, and will pass it on to our beautiful daughter.
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