Making decisions on whether or not to start a family is the biggest decision many people will make in their relationship. Despite many challenges that we overcome in our relationships and marriages, nothing can fully prepare you for having children but we have prepared 5 decisions you’ll need to go through before you start a family.
Having a child is something that requires a high level of responsibility and can deeply impact your life in all areas (work life, your relationship; love life, family life, etc.). Deciding to have a child is not one of those decisions to be made on the spur of the moment. A couple needs to have their ducks in a row before making the decision to start a family. If you feel you’re ready for a family, consider these before your intention becomes action.
- Research
We’ve told you many times that the same way you plan in other areas of your life in other to get success should also translate into your love life. If you plan for success in the other areas of life; then your relationships should not be ignored and expected to run on auto pilot.
First of all, are you sure you want to have children? Are you sure you want to start a family? Many make decisions to start a family just to fill up holes in their relationship or because they’re bored. These are very wrong reasons.
After this, fully understand what it takes to start a family. There will be some decisions that you’ll need to make financially, health-wise and other areas. Of course, you might still be surprised but the purpose of research is to keep the surprises to a minimum.
- Financial Decisions
A number of couples make decisions to start families without considering the financial requirements and some even have more children than their financial capacity. This is also part of research but is very important so it warrants a standalone mention.
Before deciding to start a family, it is important you are confident that your finances as a couple are enough to take care of the needs of the child and even prepare for the future e.g. college fees.
- Plan for the best, prepare for the worst
As sad as it is to say, it has to be said. Decisions to start a family are not all that is required to start one. Quite unfortunately, accidents happen. After making the decision to start a family and they begin to attempt to have children, some couples find out that one or both of them can’t have children. Others get pregnant but miscarriages happen.
While this seems like bad news, medical advancement has grown so far that they can help with this process so there is always hope. However, before calling on medicine, many couples who do not expect any of these occurrences sometimes suffer from depression.
Just a heads up; as you’re planning for the best which is your child, also prepare for the worst. We know it must be hard to prepare to lose your baby or to be unable to have children so we’ll just say prepare as best you can.
- Timing
Timing is important for starting a family for biological reasons, but it’s also very important that we find the right time as a couple to start a family. If you just started a business or you just got married, it may be unwise to cause a new change in family and burden yourself with more expenses.
The ‘right time’ is different for every couple who wants to start a family. For most celebrities in the entertainment industry, they like to have all their children early so they can focus on their career while others have the children and run the career at the same time. The right time is not only different in regards to couples, it’s also different in regards to persons so discuss this openly with your partner.
- Consult experts.
Starting a family does not have to be something a couple should do without consulting other experts who already have their families. Although some couples don’t like to involve others in their decisions, seeking out advice can help you avoid common mistakes when starting your own family.
As a couple, you already have a lot of experts to call from other family members including your parents, uncles, aunties, grandparents, etc. Their experience will help you start off on the right foot.
IN CONCLUSION
In every facet of life, there are guidelines to follow. However, following these decisions can help your journey to starting a family go smoother. Good luck, love and light, Wonder.
