Economics and motherhood

[Cotton1]

I simply disagree with the Guardian article. I dont think its "tragic" for economics being a primary consideration on whether to reproduce or not. She writes the piece as though having kids is the be all to end all. Its biased

[Mister D]

Adelaide you dont think the promotion of abortion has anything to do with birthrates? I dont see how they possibly couldnt.

625,000 abortions is the lowest yearly number they have ever seen since they started compiling statistics.

Using that lowest number ever in 10 yrs thats over 6,000,000 children that would have been born...take the average is at least 900 to a million kids a year and that 10,000,000 in 10 yrs

Abortion certainly has an impact on birthrate..I am not trying to start an abortion is bad debate..Im adding it to the conversation about birthrates.

I do agree that the so called "culture of death" is a factor here but what she is trying to do is head off a tangent about abortion that will take over and ruin the thread. I can sympathize.

[Adelaide]

Its interesting you mention this. I saw a young mom exasperated grocery shopping just today. Even though I had two stepkids until my wife passed away children simply never interested me. It always seemed odd to me that people thought you go to college, get married then start having babies. I felt my life would end at that moment and I feel I was correct. By the time I was 30 most of my friends were already divorced and paying child support. They were done. The same married ones that couldn't wait to have them couldn't wait to get rid of them. I'm more of a doting candlelight and flowers type instead of a stinky diaper changer type. I think its an insult to women to view them as mostly baby making machines. I think women are to be loved and feel special. When it comes to economics
playing a huge role in a decision as such? Ansolutely. As I said a few sentences ago many males and females find thereselves at 30 years ole struggling with 2.3 kids, child support etc asking themselves why didnt they think it thru? Economically, psychologically, romantically etc imo its not a question of why would you not reproduce it should be a soul searching why would you?

Most people finish university by their early to mid-20s. Unless you're getting a PhD or equivalent - think the median age of starting a PhD in my program is 30.5. It takes 4-6 years (or longer). Going to college is different than making college your life (academia). But the cost of college, particularly in the US, is really quite crazy and is probably a part of this culture where women consider the cost of children.

[Adelaide]

If you can't pay the price make the economically responsible decision not to have sex, or at least safe sex.

I think you missed the point; women older than me and in my generation could afford to have children in theory. But, when you're already paying off student loans, unable to buy a real house because of property prices, and are debating whether to have a child at $250,000 apiece... should we? Can we?

Also, what happens if that child is born prematurely and I am paying off the cost of medical bills for the first 5 years of the kid's life? Or if it is twins who are almost always born prematurely? You can't foresee that. I actually have a friend who is a lawyer, great job, great insurance, just finished off paying like $160,000 in NICU bills for her now 6-year-old twins (who are also very autistic with developmental issues, which means more money).

It is like the choice is being taken away because of how things are in the world.

[MisterVeritis]

It is a tragedy that women are being turned away from motherhood - Op-Ed - The Guardian

This is an opinion piece that caught my attention.

What happens when society, in various ways, doesn't support the choice to have children? This has nothing to do with the abortion debate (read the article!!!), but the idea (and reality) that a lot of women are choosing to delay or not have children entirely because they are worried about the financial cost of having and raising a child. The article takes an interesting position in saying that current economics infringe on the personal freedom to have children if that is what they choose.

How does society proceed forward when fewer and fewer women are choosing motherhood? Even teen pregnancy rates are dropping.

Reduce all taxes to the point that it does not take two adults to pay them and earn a living. Get the government back out of our lives.