A Wonderful Tribute on the "Price" of Children

The Price of Children

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even include college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

$8,896.66 a year
$741.38 a month
$171.08 a week
That's a mere $24.24 a day!
Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is this:
Don't have children if you want to be "rich."

Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140?

* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint
* carve pumpkins
* play hide-and-seek
* catch lightning bugs
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:

* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh
* watching Saturday morning cartoons
* going to Disney movies
* wishing on stars

* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck.

You get to be a hero just for:

* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof
* taking the training wheels off a bike
* removing a splinter
* filling a wading pool
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history to witness the:

* first step
* first word
* first bra
* first date
* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits. So one day they will like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!!!!!!!

Happy New Year

I'm sorry to note that it's been quite awhile since I've posted to this site. In truth I'm not sure how many read this but I figure that, even if it's just me writing, it's still a worthwhile use of my time.

Much has happened since I last posted:

We had a wonderful CHRISTMAS with family and friends! Our holiday season was full of good cheer, from the scrumptious foods to the caroling to the delight and wonder which filled our beautiful daughter's eyes as she beheld snow, Christmas lights and gift giving for the first time. We enjoyed our first Christmas as parent, which truly put the Spirit of Christmas in a whole new light for us, and had fun starting some of our own family traditions. To those of you who were with us during the holiday, thank you so much for your wonderful company and for making our holiday special. We treasured the time spent with you. And for those who we were not able to be with during the holiday, you were deeply missed. We hope to be able to spend many more holidays with you.

We entered a NEW YEAR, 2006. Because I like to 'start the New Year out right', we spent the evening in as a family, snuggling on the couch, finishing the Book of Mormon, and turning in early so we could arise early in 2006. It almost worked. :) In the one month we've had in this New Year, great things have already happened for our family. If it's any sign of things to come in 2006, it's going to be a spectacular year!

On January 8th, I found out that I had passed my Physician Assistant Board exam, therefore rendering me Nationally Certified to practice medicine. Although I still need to License in Utah and find a job, this is a huge relief to me, knowing that I will never have to endure such a rigorous board exam again. Taking it on Dec 27th meant that I gave up much of the holiday celebration and cheer in order to study, but, having passed and having it behind me makes all the sacrifice worth it!

On January 20th, we celebrated the FIRST anniversary of our sweet MAKEA'S entrance into the world. We can't believe how much joy, delight and meaning she has brought to our lives, nor how quickly this past year has flown by! I can still remember the eve of her birth as clearly as if it were last night, as I eagerly anticipated what it would be like to meet her, to hold her, and to have her in our lives. I remember as though it were yesterday, and yet, I cannot imagine or remember a time without her in our lives. She is so perfect. We love her so much.

So, Happy New Year to you all, a month late but heartfelt nonetheless. I hope this year proves a wonderful one to each of you and your families!