1. The decision not to have children HHS 4M

2. Being a parent ‘Being’ a parent is different than ‘becoming’ one Is recognized by many as a significant role It will test your patience It a fulltime, life time endeavor It will challenge you to shift your life priorities

3. Why do people decide not to have children? With your elbow partner, come up with 5 reasons people decide not to have children.

4. Some explanations… Financial reasons – ‘raising children is expensive. I barely make enough money to buy the things I want.’ Career Reasons – ‘I am 5 years away from an executive position in the firm – I can’t afford to divide my time from work’ Selfish Reasons – ‘I only want to have to take care of myself – my life will suffer if I’m a parent.’ Insecurity – ‘I know that being a parent is a huge job – I don’t think I can handle it in the way I know I would need to.’ The environmentalist reason – the best way to go ‘green’ is to have few, if any, children.

5. Wrong reasons to have children ‘It will strengthen our marriage’ ‘I want to raise rich and successful kids – much unlike myself’ ‘My parents had a lot of kids – so will I!’ ‘Its really not that hard to be a parent – I easily can do it’

6. Do children bring happiness? Relationships in the 20 th and 21 st century are more based on Romantic Love, rather than economic necessity. The addition of children to the family unit therefore is seen now to fulfill the emotional needs of the couple. Parents become empathetic in a way they never were.

7. What does the literature say? Read the New York Times article ‘Does having children make you unhappy?’

8. Happiness? What is that? With your elbow partner – briefly script your ideal life at the age of 40. Will you have children?

9. Happiness … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVKJY0D MZXY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVKJY0D MZXY

10. The Death of a Child We see just how much of a part children are in the lives of parents in the unfortunate event of a death. The hardest thing a parent can endure is to lose a child. – Page 374 – 375 ‘Donald and Louisa’ – please answer the 5 questions that follow the reading.d