There comes a time in every woman’s life when they realize that their biological clock is ticking and they seriously start thinking about having kids. No matter if you want to do it on your own or are happily married, you will need to be prepared for the challenges. A child is a commitment for life, not only a few months or years, and it is your responsibility as a future parent to create the best conditions for their upbringing. If you have recently been thinking about having kids read the below tips on how to decide if you are ready.
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Do You Have a Solid Financial Background?
While money doesn’t buy happiness, it will help you give your kids everything they will need to be healthy and happy. If you are in debt and don’t have a solid home, chances are that this will not change for the better after you had kids. You will need to spend money not only on health care bills, but also baby items and childcare, and it is likely that you might have to cut your hours back. Unless you have a solid financial background, you might not be ready to have kids.
Is Your Body Ready?
It is also important that you find out whether or not your body is able to put up with the changes pregnancy makes. Whether you have diabetes, a disability, or have a high risk of thrombosis, bleeding disorders, you will need to talk to a consultant. Most doctors don’t recommend that you try to have kids if you have hemophilia, therefore, your best bet would be to look into the option of surrogacy so you don’t risk your own health or even life.
Can You Afford to Take Time Off Work?
It is also important to check which stage you are in your career. If you are up for a promotion next, you might want to wait a couple of months. On the other hand, you will have to take time off work nonetheless, therefore, it is important that you clarify with your employer whether or not you get paid for the leave, and how long you will receive the benefits. If you want to be sure that you will have a job to go back to, you might need to carry on working a couple of days a week, too.
Do You Have Family Support?
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Not many people are able to cope with a new baby, household, and work at the same time. If you have a supportive family and your parents live nearby, you will need to talk to them about helping out. However, if you have elderly relatives who need care, you might find it hard to juggle childcare, work, and caring for aging parents. You need to plan your days and think through how running errands with a baby will impact your life.
Is Your Home Suitable?
Many people bring up kids in small apartments, but it is not ideal. If you own your place, you will be able to make adjustments so it is more suitable for the new arrival. The area you are living in will also matter. You will want to go out to the park with your little one and feel safe. You are also likely to need convenience shopping facilities, parking, and storage for your stroller. You might decide to move to the countryside to give your kids a better start in life, but your career might suffer as a consequence.
Do You Have a Flexible Job?
Before you decide to have kids, it might be a good idea to negotiate the terms of your contract, so you can work flexible hours, or even from home on some days. This will make your life much easier and reduce the time you spend away from home commuting. Alternatively, you can change your career and start your own online business you can manage while looking after your young family. Today, an increasing number of people move into the gig economy, as it offers better time management and improved work-life balance.
Having kids is a commitment for life. If you would like to make sure that you are making the right decision, you will have to check your living environment, your work and care commitments, and your financial background. You will want your child to have the best possible start in life, so wait until your body, your mind, and your career make it possible for you to become a parent.
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