I came downstairs one morning to find that my youngest child had pulled a packet of cornflakes off our kitchen top and poured it all over the kitchen floor. He said ‘Not me Mummy’. Cute smile though. The other two had helped by putting handfuls in bowls and pouring on milk, most of which ended up on the floor. Just one of the many little things they do to make sure I’m awake in the mornings.
According to recent research done by ‘Liverpool Victoria’ (a Financial Services Company) the cost of raising a child has gone up 9% in the last year alone to around £180,000. It’s shocking. That’s over £500,000 for our 3 children to be found and spent in the next 18 years. My bank will be laughing for a long, long time. Help!
And that’s not taking into consideration the emotional and mental cost of having kids. Will my children ‘turn out’ ok? Will they get bullied, have ADHD, steal, get into drugs, get sick, have a good job, and earn enough to pay for my retirement home? Should I stay at home, or go back to work? The list of worries is endless. Sensible people ask themselves – why have children when it all seems like too much expensive hassle? But surely, there is something good about having children.
This is how I see it. Whilst I had little clue about the impact even one child would have on my life, I can say with certainty that I now have a greater understanding of what love is, and that is why I am glad I had children. Then there’s the compassion you need for when they are sick and hurting, humour for funny moments, panic when they are in danger, discipline to train them and excitement when they learn something new. For me, love is doing all these things without expecting anything back.
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Having three children in five years has been hard, and there are days when I feel a bit left behind. But, I love spending time with my children. I get to be my own boss, hunt for worms in the garden, sunbathe on the beach and generally set my own agenda. Nothing on earth compares to the unexpected times they come to you and say ‘I love you Mummy, you’re the best Mummy in the world’.
It is overwhelming.
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' Mark 12:30 |
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