The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child frombirth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch 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, or*
$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 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 saidor 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, and* 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, and* wishing on stars.--
You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand printsset in clay for Mother's Day , and cards with backward letters for Father'sDay .--
For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck.--
You get to be ahero 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 or pizza regardless.--
You get a front row seat to history, to witness the:* first step,* first word,* first bra,* first date, and* first time behind the wheel.--
You get to be immortal.--
You get another branch added to your familytree, 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, patcha 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 !!!!
