Things to Consider When Planning a Family:
Planning a family is always exciting, but it’s not just the color of the nursery or the schools you’ll pick that you need to think about. There is a lot to consider before rushing into starting a family, so read on to ensure you are fully prepared.
What Age to Have Kids
The first thing you want to consider is what age you and your partner want to be parents. Do you have to have children while you’re still in your twenties, or would you prefer to wait until you’re older and more secure?
Timing is everything, so if you find yourself pregnant too young or early, there are steps you can take, such as termination (depending on how far along you are) and adoption. If you are considering an abortion, visit gcaus.com.au for professional and non-judgmental treatment alongside other reproductive health services.
Where You Will Live
Where you live will have a great impact on your life as a family. You can raise children anywhere, including bustling cities and the quiet suburbs, so it entirely depends on what you envision. What you should take into account are local schools, places to play, and crime rates.
The Strength of Your Relationship
Even if you are eager to have children soon, you should first consider the strength of your relationship. After all, you want to raise your kids in a stable and happy environment! Some questions to ask include – do you fight often? How long have you been together? Do you resolve conflict quickly? Do you know each other’s families well? Ideally, you would be in a long-term, strong relationship where you can both trust the other completely.
The Time You Have to Spare
Children take up a lot of time, so you must be prepared to give them a lot of it. Consider how much time you have to spare right now before you have children, as you don’t want to discover you cannot give them the attention they require. Some parents reduce their work hours, but this isn’t always possible in the long run, so make sure you know you can be home enough to give your kid the upbringing they deserve.
The Size of Your Home
When planning a family, you will consider how many children you plan on having, so make sure you have the room to home them all. If you want three kids, for example, you would preferably have three spare bedrooms. While young children are fine with sharing a bedroom (mostly), they will want their privacy as teenagers.
Your Finances
One of the biggest things to consider while planning a family is how much money you have. Kids are expensive, so figure out how much your family will cost and ensure you have the funds to cover it all. Remember to include college tuition, entertainment, and time off work in your budgeting.
Planning a family takes time, so don’t rush it. Before having kids, you should make sure you are fully prepared for everything that is to come.