1-THE JOYS OF PARENTHOOD? More women are child-free in the U.S. now that at any other time since the government began keeping track, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. Almost half (47.6 percent) of women between the ages of 15 and 44 did not have children in 2014, up from 46.5 percent in 2012. Clues to this declining birth rate might be found in a recent study published in the journal Demography, which showed a drop in parental happiness after the birth of a child. For example, people typically underestimate the daily struggles of caring for a child. And while much can also be said for the joys of parenthood, these following arguments provide food for thought. 2-YOU'LL BE MORE EMOTIONALLY EVEN KEELED Social mores about what it takes to be a “good” mom put pressure on women and can result in women being less satisfied with their lives, according to a study published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies. “Parenting is for the long haul,” says Gail Gross, PhD, a family and child development author, expert and educator who was not associated with the study. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint. And relationships, especially between parent and child, are both complicated and messy.” The fact is, a large part of your life will be focused on your relationship with your child, rather than yourself. “This requires a lot of patience, energy, commitment, obligation and responsibility for the life of another human being,” says Gross. 3-YOU'RE NOT AS LIKELY TO BE SLEEP DEPRIVED The stereotype of the sleep-deprived new parent is an accurate one. Moms get 1.5 fewer hours of sleep each night and a lot of variability and unpredictability in sleep, according to an Australian study. In fairness, this also applies to new dads, who lose sleep but are not usually able to compensate with naps during the day. Moms and dads both complain of fatigue. Sleep deprivation impacts many areas of health, including an increased risk of memory loss, obesity, heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke and even diabetes. 4-YOU WON'T BE EXPOSED TO GERMS YOUR KIDS BRING BACK FROM DAYCARE If you child goes to daycare you can expect to pick up more germs that can spread throughout the family. Microbes are easily transmitted and can be found on toys, blankets, cubby holes and lockers, says Michael Schmidt, PhD, a microbiologist at the Medical University of South Carolina. “Parents who’ve not been exposed to germs in a while sometimes get sick from their children. Primarily, you get aches, pains, flulike symptoms and diarrhea.” The germs of concern include the norovirus (“stomach flu”), enteroviruses, rhino viruses, and adenovirus, all of which are easily transmitted. 5-YOU'LL HAVE MORE SEX Children can impact your relationship with your partner, and not necessarily in a good way, says Gross. “No family is static.” If your child has problems with health, sleep or discipline, those problems can affect your sex life and intimacy with your partner. 6-YOU'LL SPARE YOURSELF FROM back pain FROM LIFTING AND CARRYING BABIES Hoisting a child on one hip as you shop or lifting a baby out of a car seat and into a supermarket cart tax your core muscles and can lead to back pain and other injuries over time. “It’s similar to women who carry a heavy bag over one shoulder every day,” says Tom Holland, MS, CSC, Connecticut exercise physiologist and owner of TeamHolland.com. “Plus, often the pain isn’t immediate or specific to the lower back. You may notice shoulder or knee pain as your body compensates for carrying weight that’s unevenly distributed.” 7-YOU'LL HAVE LESS FINANCIAL STRESS The cost of raising kids can put tremendous financial stress on a marriage. Financial stress is linked to a decline in well-being, according to a Gallup survey of college graduates. The cost of raising a child born in 2013 from birth up until age 18 in the U.S. is projected to be approximately $245,340.00, according to the latest report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Clearly, children cost a lot of money,” says Gross. “Education today is at an unbelievably all-time high, and from the moment your child is born you begin to think about how much it will cost to educate him or her. Never mind clothing, medical bills, social activities. 8-YOU WON’T BE AS TEMPTED TO KEEP JUNK FOOD AROUND THE HOUSE Granted, not having kids doesn’t ensure a healthy diet, but you won’t be as likely to keep Count Chocula and gummy worms around the house without little ones to eat it. "Kids are snackers,” says Amy Goodson, MS, RD, a sports dietitian for the Dallas Cowboys and co-author of Swim, Bike, Run – Eat (Fair Winds Press, 2014). “Most families with kids have a pantry stocked with cookies, chips and snack foods. The reality is if it’s in your house you’re more likely to eat it. If you don’t want to be tempted by a food, don’t buy it. It’s easier said than done when you have kids.” In addition, parents end up taking in many extra calories by finishing up their kids’ meals at home and when out at fast food restaurants . 9-YOU’LL BE LESS STRESSED Parents must deal with many stressors, including the economic and emotional strains of raising children, often while juggling other social roles. Stress wrecks havoc with your body by increasing the risk of high blood pressure, decreasing your body’s immune response and even increasing healing time. “When you have kids you have other people who are expecting a lot from you, so if you’re giving yourself to your kids you’re giving less to your partner, which can result in conflict,” says Allen Wagner, LMFT, a Los Angeles therapist who specializes in couples. The middle phase of life is also when you’re starting a career, which is stressful enough, says Wagner. “Adding a family is a whole other thing. 10-YOU CAN BE ALONE ANY TIME YOU WANT Finding alone time becomes a major challenge when you have kids. “It’s tough because having kids is an extra 24/7 job, especially if you have a job outside the home in addition to your kids,” says Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD, psychologist and author of Better Than Perfect. “It’s a constant responsibility both when you’re home and even if the kids are at school – buying groceries, etc.” Lombardo says making time for yourself enables you to focus on your own application of values and activities that you enjoy. “If you don’t have time to yourself you end up losing yourself, especially stay-at-home moms who often find their purpose in raising their children. Once they leave the house and this purpose is no longer there, this could lead to depression.” Source
