Factors to consider when having a child

Goals Marital Relationship Finances Readiness Age Health Religion

Poor Reasons to Have a Baby To trap someone into marriage To prove themselves physically as a man or a woman To provide a playmate for other children To provide a grandchild To gain financially (welfare)

Poor Reasons continued… To take revenge on parents or others To have someone who will love them Help in old age

Good reasons for having a baby… Love of children Pleasure from growth and development of a child Opportunity to teach, guide, etc. Happiness of being a parent

Three Tasks of Parenting

Physical Care Food and clothing Exercise and rest A safe home Health care

Nurturing Love Support Attention Encouragement

Guidance Appropriate Limits Self-control Positive values Moral Standards

How Parenthood Affects Lifestyle

Additional household chores Career decisions Emotional Conflicts Money Problems

Lifestyle changes continued… Additional space requirements Difficulty planning Strain on time and energy Limits on personal freedom

Prepare for Lifestyle changes by: Discussing the changes together in advance Reading books and articles on parenting and child care

Talking with experienced family members and friends Taking parenting or child care classes

Families Birth- –Biological, surrogate, artificial insemination Adoption- - Domestic or International Marriage- -step families Foster-

Family Structures: Nuclear Single Parent Blended Extended Couples without children