The Cost of Children

This is just too good not to pass on to all. Something absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedlyseen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, butthis is the first time I have seen the rewards listedthis way. It's nice. The government recently calculated the cost of raisinga child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 fora middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! Thatdoesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. Ittranslates 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 isdon't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get foryour $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 warmcookies. * A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly orchocolate. * A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites * Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter whatthe boss said or 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 underrefrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodlewreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay forMother's Day, and cards with backward letters forFather's Day. ... For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero 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 abaseball team that never wins but always gets treatedto 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 addedto your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long listof limbs in your obituary called grandchildren andgreat grandchildren. You get an education inpsychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications,and human sexuality that no college can match. ... In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there underGod. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scareaway the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart,police a slumber party, ground them forever, and lovethem without limits. So, one day they will, like you,love without counting the cost. That is quite a dealfor the price!!! Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!!! ____________________________________________________________________________________Looking