1. Chapter 3 The Decision to Parent
Parenting
Mrs. Swope
Columbian High School

2. What are some reasons for becoming parents?
An expression of love
To establish a family life-style, like children, enjoy being around children
To have the experience of raising a child
To satisfy their curiosity of what it would be like to have, and raise a child
To fulfill role expectations

3. What are some poor reasons for having children?
Giving in to family and peer pressure
Trapping a partner
Wanting children for friends or to have someone to love
Wanting children for companionship during old age

4. What are factors to consider when deciding?
Each partner’s future goals
consider short-term goals
consider long-term goals
Make goals visible, write them down on paper

5. Factors to consider cont.
Your marital relationship: how well do you communicate? A weak pattern of communication will become weaker with the stresses of parenting.
Partners need to respect each others opinions
Are both spouses dedicated to the marriage?
Are both partners willing to work to make sure their relationship is the primary relationship?

6. Factors to consider: Readiness for Parenthood
Ready to accept the roles of mother and father?
Emotional factors: both partners look at parenting as a positive expansion of their relationship
Both are emotionally mature and responsible

7. Factors to Consider: Readiness for Parenthood
Social factors: if you say “yes” to parenting you may say “no” to some aspects of your social life.
Life-style changes are part of the package of parenting
Own demands become second to those of the new baby
May make friends with other new parents

8. Factors to Consider: Readiness for Parenthood
Intellectual factors: both partners should have basic knowledge of child development
Should have knowledge of child care, guidance, and discipline
Should have realistic expectations for roles of mother and father

9. Factors to consider: Readiness for Parenthood
Physical factors: needs to consider health problems that could be hereditary or genetically passed on
Both prospective parents should be in excellent health, capable of handing the physical and emotional stress of parenting
Mother’s physical health during teen years may affect health of her unborn baby
Age are considered the best for child- bearing

10. Factors to consider: Readiness for Parenthood
Physical factors cont.: if the mother is over 35, greater health risks may occur.
Down’s syndrome: more common in older mothers, the baby is born with 47 chromosomes in cells instead of the normal 46. This affects both physical and intellectual development of the child.

11. Factors to consider: Finances
Children are expensive.
What do child care costs include?
As children increase in age they increase in cost
Ways to help manage these costs?

12. Factors to consider: Affects on Career
Dual-career families: both parents work outside the home, very common today.
Views on working parents and child care responsibilities should be discussed before marriage
Managing family and career obligations takes organization, communication, compromise, and commitment by both.

13. Reasons for Not Having Children
Choose not to have children so they have more time for themselves .
They have more time for career, hobbies, travel, friends, relatives.
Prefer to have more money for their own needs and wants.
Some may be afraid to become parents

14. Challenges and Risks Faced by Teen Parents
Health risks: body of teen mother is still growing
Teen mother may not be informed of important health practices, prenatal care
Infant mortality rate is higher for teen mothers
Often born premature and at a low birth weight

15. Challenges Faced by Teen Parents
Social and Emotional: loss of freedoms of a typical teen
Hard to cope with the demands of the baby
Less time to go out with friends
The teen parent doesn’t have as much in common with their old friends

16. Challenges Faced by Teen Parents
Education and Career: some pregnant teens may choose to drop out of school
Some teen mothers lack the support of their families, child care becomes an issue for completing their education
Teen parents may have to settle for low paying jobs
This may affect their lifetime earning potential

17. Challenges Faced by Teen Parents
Financial Risks: single teen mothers may have to go on welfare (AFDC and WIC)
Food stamps and Medicaid are other forms of public aid
Some teen fathers are able to provide financial support but many do not.

18. Decision Making
Parenting is an option in life you may or may not decide to choose.
The decision making process can help you make responsible decisions.
Step 1: Identify
Step 2: Possible Alternatives
Step 3: Pros and Cons of each alternative

19. Decision Making cont.
Step 4: Based on the pros and cons, Make the Decision
Step 5: Carry out the decision
Step 6: Evaluate the outcome
The decisions made prior to conception can be reversed