Only Wealthy Families Can Afford To Have More Than Two Children?

I came across the following article in USA Weekend April 4-6, 2008.

More money, more kids
Stats show that wealthier families are having more children.

The gap between the rich and the poor is getting smaller-at least when it comes to family size.

Since the 19th century, the nation's poorest families have traditionally had more children than those with large incomes. But within the past 15 years, that gap appears to be shrinking, Census data shows.

Fewer families whose incomes fall in the bottom 10% of the population are having three or more children: 33.7% of such families had at least three kids in 2006, down from 39.8% in 1990, according to Census surveys.

By contrast, the wealthiest families are having more children: In 2004, an estimated 41.3% of the wealthiest families had at least three children, much higher than in 1996, when an estimated 29.3% of families earning in the highest income bracket (that year, $3000,000-plus) had three or more kids.

“Having more than two children is a luxury,” says Paul Demeny of the Population Council, a non-profit research group. “Three or four is getting to be a size that only the affluent can afford.”

You can read the full article here.

This article has had me thinking since I read it last week. I think the issue that strikes me most is that having children is all about having money. That a substantial amount of money is required to transform a child into a successful, well-adjusted, happy adult.

I completely agree that it does take money to raise a child. Money is required to provide shelter, running water, food, clothing, and the other necessities of life. But I think the key word is necessities. In my book, iPods, PlayStations, and Prada handbags are not necessities.

My mother worked very hard to provide for my sister and I. We always had the things we needed and, at times, we were blessed with some of the things we wanted. But we never received everything our little hearts desired. True, we may have whined and pouted from time to time but I can assure you being denied a want didn't ruin our lives in any way.

An acquaintance of mine was expecting her second child at the same time I was expecting my second child. She, and her husband, had decided that this child would be there last. I had bite my lower lip when she commented, “We'd maybe have more children but it gets expensive.” It seems heartbreaking, to me, to reject the blessing of a child because “it's expensive.”

Again, what is expensive? Are we talking about food and clothing or dance classes and trips to Disney World? I read on a message board that children aren't expensive, lifestyles are. The longer I'm a parent the more I find that to be true.

We have a simple three bedroom home which is more than adequate. We have two cars that are ten years old but still running well. We gladly accept clothing given to us from family and friends rather than always buying new (and yes, we do buy new clothing as needed-as needed, not as wanted). Our family participates in a variety of activities that are free of charge or nearly free of charge. Such as story time at the local library and community celebrations for New Year's Eve and other special occasions.

My husband and I do hope to have more than two children. We don't believe that having more than two children is a luxury as Paul Demeny stated above. We firmly believe that the majority of families could support three, four, or even more children if they desired to do so (I understand that some families have varying circumstances that do make this impossible). I think the part that is difficult for many, is that it does require work and careful planning of your family's resources.

Each of your children may not have their own laptop computer and iPod. Your children may have to wait to purchase the latest DVD that they “just have to have.” They may even have to earn their own money to do so-gasp! But consider the life lessons they learn along the way. They learn that money doesn't flow freely out of the ATM. And that you really do have to work to earn the money that goes in your bank account. When we were old enough, my mother did require that we work to earn money for some of the special things we wanted. Oftentimes, I decided that I didn't want to make the purchase after all. It's much harder to lay down your own hard earned cash than to watch someone else do it on your behalf.

Paul Demeny states “Three or four is getting to be a size that only the affluent can afford.” I completely disagree. We are eagerly awaiting God's next blessing to our family and, I can assure you, we are not among the wealthiest families that this article speaks of. We are, however, committed to working diligently to raise the children God blesses us within the means He has provided for us.