…Pressure or Pleasure?

Posted on March 15, 2013

I just came across this new research published in an article titled, “Pressures of Parenthood” in which couples exaggerate the joy of being parents to hide costs. It was published in The Telegraph, a reliable source of information in the UK. Needless to say, I was quite taken aback by the title itself, let alone the content.

In my humble opinion, the “cost” of raising children has always been an issue since the invention of money! Here are some facts:

Condoms were first brought to the U.S. by Charles Goodyear in 1844. Yes, vehicle tires were not all he made! Reasons: Increased health benefit from accidental pregnancies for women and decreased financial burdens. In 1914, Margaret Sanger who coined the term “birth control” and opened her first birth control clinic, also stated that this would be a way for families to be less financially burdened if they wished. Wiki tells us: “Birth control increases economic growth because of fewer dependent children, more women participating in the work force, and less consumption of scarce resources.”  

 My point is there have been, are, and always will be “costs” associated with raising children. Our parents, grandparents, and our ancestors all had these costs. This is not a new problem or issue. It is a factor that parents have to manage if they want to have a family. Viewing children as a “financial burden” or a “pressure” takes the pleasure out of parenting, don’t you think? Here’s a blog, I wrote on this very subject last year that can, for sure, bring a fresh perspective to this very topic: Raising Children…Expensive or Expansive.

Let us know your thoughts here, on Facebook, or Twitter.

Finally, just for fun, here’s something else I found: Birth Control Timeline.