I have 5 kids and money has been tight due to the economy too. But the scenario you’re talking about is the same scenario most people are in. Yet they still have more than 1 kid. It’s just a cop out. It really is. Everybody is busy. Making more money so you can have more “stuff” is fleeting. If you’re truly serious about doing your part for the future of the country, then you’ll have more kids. Otherwise, it’s just talk. That’s your responsibility to produce more good productive people. At just 1 kid, you have no legacy. It takes at least 2 kids to replace your family. When you’re gone, your child will be the lone representative of your family.
MrInvisible, I am happy that you are happy with five children and are making ends meet but you are making a couple of generalizations when you say “Making more money so you can have more “stuff” is fleeting” and “If you’re truly serious about doing your part for the future of the country, then you’ll have more kids”.
First, I don’t make more money for more stuff. I work two jobs to save for my son’s college education. Which is pretty expensive even with the pre-plan. I don’t know what your daycare arrangments are but I live 1800 miles away from any of my immediate family so, day care is a necessity and very expensive weekly.
Second, as for being serious about doing something for my country. Well I also work two jobs to replace the income of the one I had for 12 years and could not replace. I collected unemployment for 4 mos and felt guilty doing it so I did what I had to to get off of the government dole ( I thought this was the right thing for my country). Also, I needed the second jod to continue to pay my mortgage so that I wouldn’t foreclose (I didn’t want my neighbors to pay for my tough luck). My wife goes to school (less time and more bills) because there are no other jobs in our area in her chosen and educated career and the writing is on the wall as work is slowing down and they are being forced to take unpaid furloughs. Again she needs to re-educate so that she can find work in another field and hope that she doesn’t lose her job until she is done. We do not want to forclose on our mortgage obligation.
Now I could just do the right thing for my country and walk away from my home. Quit my second job, have my wife quit school file for bankruptcy and then have another couple of children.
Unfortunately, my moral compass will not let me hang my creditors and quit on my obligations when neither them nor myself are responsible for my current predicament. But the predicament I currently find myself in allows me one choice and that is to not take on any more expenses and unfortunately that means another child. My son will carry-on my name proudly. No child leaves no legacy.
Call it a cop out if you will.
I’m beginning to sound like a broken record but I tell as many people as I can. The more “stuff” we get rid of, the happier we are. We have been purging for a couple of years now but got really serious about it a couple of months ago. I want bare bones in this house!
For starters, it’s so much easier to care for. The kids can do a lot of the chores and actually do a good job! Not so overwhelming. The kids actually play with the few toys remaining (and we avoid battery operated as much as possible). We are no longer worried about my husband taking a pay cut(he makes well under 6 figures) because we don’t buy “stuff” anymore. Our meals are more simple which makes grocery shopping and meal planning a breeze.
I am able to stay home and homeschool our 5 children (number six comes in October) and we get by just fine. I don’t have to pay for daycare. We’re not concerned about paying thousands upon thousands of dollars for a big college. It just isn’t necessary anymore.
I love daydreaming about how many grandkids I may have someday. I hope I live long enough to enjoy them! :0)