2.8 million delaying parenthood due to housing costs

Orpheo

nomoreboomandbust wrote: »

having children is overated, not at all like it says in the brochure !

Waited over 4 years to have children after marrying, was hassled constantly by both sets of grandparents-when are you going to have a baby, isn't it time you had a baby,etc...

We wanted to save a bit of money before having children, but the grandparents said they would help out with childcare, in fact they were fighting over who would do it !

But when the crunch came, we were left in limbo, one set of grandparents moved to sunny spain nine months after our child was born and the other set didn't want to know once their prodigal son announced they were having a child as well.

What I am saying is that you also need a good family network around you to help out, otherwise it can become very difficult.

Your personal circumstances are just that.

We lived in greater London and now the East Mids. My parents and brother live in Canada, my wife's parents live in Cheshire. We have still coped. A good family network around you is helpful, but not a prerequisite.

I think you made the mistake of reading the brochure.

ukcarper

ninky wrote: »

fearful? or rational? it's great you are happy with your family. however, i certainly don't think becoming a parent requires any degree of bravery. it's just a biological reality in many cases.

personally i wouldn't want to have a child unless i could offer it a fantastic life. i don't think i'm in a position to do that so i don't want to bring an innocent life into the world. your judgement is different. perhaps you think the gift of life and love are enough. personally i don't but i respect that difference of viewpoint.

But what is a fantastic life my grandchildren have at least 10x the amount of toys my children had who had 10x the amount of toys I had but do all these material things make for a better life.

movilogo

Human biology does not follow laws of economics.

Pregnancy is best during late 20s or early 30s. If you have child at that stage, then child can grow up to adhulthood when you retire.

If you have child at older age, you will be quite old and if your child delays family till they are well settled too, then you have very little chance of seeing your grandchild(ren)

Orpheo

Women are most fertile and fit for childbirth between the ages of 20-24.

ninky_2

ukcarper wrote: »

But what is a fantastic life my grandchildren have at least 10x the amount of toys my children had who had 10x the amount of toys I had but do all these material things make for a better life.

good question - a fantastic life in terms of what can be controlled in my definition is to have a choice to work or not to work. to be able to persue interests, studies, travel etc. to have the flexibility that money provides. basically to be wealthy. i know not all wealthy people are happy but i certainly would not want to have children destined to be wage slaves. an extreme position perhaps and one that many will not share but it's my position.

Orpheo

ninky wrote: »

good question - a fantastic life in terms of what can be controlled in my definition is to have a choice to work or not to work. to be able to persue interests, studies, travel etc. to have the flexibility that money provides. basically to be wealthy. i know not all wealthy people are happy but i certainly would not want to have children destined to be wage slaves. an extreme position perhaps and one that many will not share but it's my position.

You may have all this one day, but life can turn on a sixpence and it be gone the next. Do you not think that if you give all these things to your children then they fail to appreciate it?

ninky_2

Orpheo wrote: »

You may have all this one day, but life can turn on a sixpence and it be gone the next. Do you not think that if you give all these things to your children then they fail to appreciate it?

not at all. i think that's kind of a myth we make up to comfort ourselves. plenty of people are born into that sort of wealth and they do just fine - in fact it opens up a whole new level of opportunity and enriched living experience.

ninky_2

Orpheo wrote: »

Women are most fertile and fit for childbirth between the ages of 20-24.

funny how that is the age most people (if they are going) go to university. do you think women should ideally put off going to university or juggle both commitments?

LittleMissAspie

ukcarper wrote: »

Do students ned £173 a week to live on?

The student room I lived in costs £122 per week this year.

Orpheo

ninky wrote: »

not at all. i think that's kind of a myth we make up to comfort ourselves. plenty of people are born into that sort of wealth and they do just fine - in fact it opens up a whole new level of opportunity and enriched living experience.

There have been plenty of idle rich in times gone by, many of whom amounted to little our nothing. Many were satisified simply to squander their inheritance through gambling, drugs and prostitutes - hookers and blow, if you like. Even the best of them often wound up losing all their money to unscrupulous investments. The very best of them dedicated their lives moral or scientific causes and made philanthropic achievements, but these were the few not the many.