[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

I heard this article mentioned on Paul Harvey's 12 pm (ET) radio show today -- and did a web search (after unsuccessfully searching for it on Free Republic) to find the article in full. Please pardon me if this HAS already been posted before. If it hasn't -- ENJOY! If it has, it's message bears repeating again (and again, and again)....

Also -- I TRIED to post this article to the "General Interest" topics, but it kept reverting to the "News/Activism" topic...

Here is the source of the article:

http://www.angelfire.com/ga3/sweetgeorgiapeach1/cost.html

[GSlob]

There is a short four line verse which I'll take the liberty to translate verbatim [please take me at my word that it IS a verse in the original language]:
What are the children? -Worries, running noses,
Scarlet fever, whooping cough, cries,
Sleepless nights and days of worry -
In short, only trouble...

[Rhiannon]

Must be talking about young children, when they become teenagers , you start questioning whether if any expense is worth it, when they are disrespectful, rebellious and arguementative.

I have just figured out why parents have heart attacks at this age. It because they have teenagers the specialize in enraging their parents.

[nuke rocketeer]

You forgot:
An eager retriever of launched model rockets
A good excuse to buy all the toys you wanted as a kid
An excellent source of your daily requirement of laughter

[Hildy]

Isn't this sweet. I don't know many parents who fingerpaint with their high school children, but I do know many who wait up all night worrying where their children are. I know many who have to bail their children out of jail. I know many who watch their children battle addictions and depression. I even know some whose children have abused them.

My point? WHY DO PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN ALWAYS HAVE TO PROVE HOW GREAT IT IS, HMM?

[Old Professer]

Nag Note: divide $160,140 and you get the hourly equivalent of a full-time worker at minimum wage after taxes; IOW some people either do it for less or it can't be done, which is probably the thrust behind this piece.

[Lizavetta]

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 (US) for a middle-income family

How can anyone with more than two brain molecules possibly believe this?

How can you live in the United States that abounds in millions of low and middle income families - most with two or more kids - who will clearly never spend that on raising their kids because they can't afford to......and buy this BS?

And since when has ANY prediction of cost determined by the government been even remotely right?

[KoRn]

Dear God. I need 3/4 of a million dollars.........

[Conservatrix]

Wow, how much will it be to raise my 6 kids?

We shop in thrift stores.
The only new stuff they get is socks and undies.
We buy food from bent and dent grocers when possible.
We do not all go to the movies each time something comes out. We wait for the $4.00 DVD at Blockbuster.
We do not overindulge or overspend.
The kids play together and enjoy each other.
We pray, love, forgive, and keep going.

We don't own a brand new vehicle or live in a beautiful new home. But the home is filled with immense and intense love. The van we do have gets us where we need to go.

Each child is so immensely talented. My oldest is an artist and wants to go into graphic design. My second has an exceptional voice and loves banking and cooking. My third wants to be a scientist in genetic engineering. My fourth is going to be a writer and missionary. My fifth is also a budding little "artist girl." My youngest is a natural ballerina and way prettier than Shirley Temple ever was.

I do not hate money, I acutally wish we had more of it, but the heart of a family is not engendered in the bank.

[Nightshift]

pinged again

[Jim Noble]

I have six.

I pity those who count the cost.

[Gabz]

WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!

[TXBSAFH]

My wife and I are expecting twins this summer, so we are starting down this road. It is a trip.