Watching my grandchildren is probably what made me recall that over thirty years ago when my children were young I read an article by the editor of Parents' Magazine commenting on some research by an economist on the material benefits of having children. The economist had concluded that there were no real tangible benefits to having children. Children were expensive. The average (supposedly) cost (back then ) of raising a child (not counting college) was around $100,00 and children generally lowered one's material standard of living, in addition to the stress and turmoil they added to one's life.
The editor of Parents' Magazine didn't dispute the economist's conclusion, but offered that there was at least one real benefit to having children: having the chance of being instrumental in, and at the same time sharing in, the newness and wonder that a child experiences in everything in life.
That thought still resonates with me.
The editor of Parents' Magazine didn't dispute the economist's conclusion, but offered that there was at least one real benefit to having children: having the chance of being instrumental in, and at the same time sharing in, the newness and wonder that a child experiences in everything in life.
That thought still resonates with me.
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