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From: debbiem@rruxe.UUCP (D. McBurnett)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: My first baby
Message-ID: <267@rruxe.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 5-Aug-85 10:35:11 EDT
Article-I.D.: rruxe.267
Posted: Mon Aug  5 10:35:11 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 6-Aug-85 10:52:31 EDT
References: <3484@cornell.UUCP>, <293@luke.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J.
Lines: 30
Keywords: I'm so excited!

Re:  the cost of kids -- it is true that small children cost a lot
less than most of us fear they will.  HOWEVER, children get
EXPENSIVE as they get older.  There was a good article in the April
1983 issue of Changing Times magazine on "Facing up to the high cost
of kids".  Cost begin to rise dramatically when children reach
around age 9 and continue to INCREASE yearly on a straight line
basis.  By the time a child is in high school, you are shelling out
around $12,000 a year for him or her.

I will also echo a remark made in another response about the impact
of kids on your lifestyle.  It is a BIG CHANGE, because now there
is somebody who is TOTALLY dependent on you, 24 hours a day.  For a
single parent, this can be gruelling.  A single parent who has an
older child to care for as the result of divorce after some years
of marriage has a tough job.  A single parent with an infant has a
job that's much tougher.  If you choose this route, you will need a
LOT of help and support, and dedication to your child, and there
will still be a lot of days where you will wonder why in the world
you ever made this decision.

Myself, I'm stupid and determined -- my inclination would be to
raise the child on my own.  But it's a rough road, and involves a
great deal of personal sacrifice.  This is NOT a good decision for
a person who is fundamentally self-centered.

Good luck to you, whatever you decide!!

Debbie McBurnett
rruxe!debbiem