Growing up, children are taught that in life, one knows they have accomplished something great when they become a parent. College then marriage then babies, a life that was expected out of everyone, but in recent years this has become an unwanted life for many people, especially those in Gen Z. Still, choosing to become a parent or not is more complex than some make it seem, there is a lot of thought that goes into deciding on if one should or wants to raise a child or if they are better off without.
The first hurdle to get over is the fact that parenthood is expensive, and the government isn’t much help to those who need aid. Even with the talk from the Trump administration of a $5,000 “baby bonus”, an incentive to raise the birth rate in the US, it doesn’t compare to the overall cost of raising a child. To have only one kid averages $18,865, and many Americans can barely afford themselves, let alone the ongoing and annual cost of actually raising a kid. When considering the total cost of raising a child to 18 in Iowa, it will run a parent over $234,414. This amount of money still leaves out the cost of if the kid wants to play a sport or join an activity, which is more than likely. Delaney Shindelar, junior, wants kids in the future, but understands that the financial strain a child could cause would hinder someone from wanting a child. “I understand why financially someone wouldn’t want kids because it could become a burden,” said Shindelar.
There is also a factor of time; having and raising a person takes time and effort that some may not be able or willing to put in. The pressure of always being alert and attentive can be daunting to some, and this can ultimately drive people away from parenthood, especially if a person plans on having a time-consuming job. Children add a new layer of complications when deciding what one’s goals and aspirations are. Shindelar plans on having a time-consuming job and worries about not having time for both. “I plan on going into the medical field, which is a lot of schooling…so I worry if I can balance school and kids,” Shindelar said. The thought that one’s life gets put on hold once they have kids is scary and can make someone stray away from having kids altogether.
Lastly, some people simply don’t want to be responsible for raising a child. Tara Devaney, sophomore, doesn’t want kids. “I just don’t like babies,” said Devaney. This is not an unusual opinion. Children are not a task one can just put a little bit of effort into, and it all ends up fine. It requires commitment like nothing else, and some just don’t feel like dedicating the time and labor to care for one.
Ultimately, deciding whether or not to have kids is not an easy one. There are many factors that go into the choice one makes, especially regarding financial issues or the pressure and responsibility of a kid.
