Can’t afford to have kids?

I think the more kids I have, the more my ideas on what a baby “needs” have changed.  My first baby had a nursery with color-coordinated artwork on the walls that matched the bedding set, and a small mountain of age-appropriate toys and clothes.  I’m finding now that fourth kids don’t really have “nurseries”. Fourth kids have whatever survived the last three kids and is absolutely necessary for survival shoved into the remaining corner of the house. And surprisingly enough, they don’t seem to mind.

Seeing the joy of my fourth child as he plays with a forgotten sock or an empty paper towel roll has helped me reevaluate what really makes you happy and how we can best use our limited resources.  I’ve heard lots of people tell me they don’t think they can afford to have more kids or to have kids at all, but I think we factor in a lot of unnecessary expenses when we imagine what it costs to raise a child.  It has been an act of faith for me to learn that God will provide the resources even if they seem more meager than what I think we need.  And the truth is my kids seem to be the better for it as we teach them the importance of stewardship, the fun of using your imagination, and how the love of family is the greatest gift we have to offer each other.