So I've been on a blog strike. I planned to continue the strike until the fuckers at NACA approved us for a home mortgage. However, the one major flaw in this brilliant plan is that the fuckers at NACA don't read my blog. And even if they did, they probably wouldn't care. Why? Because they suck. Duh.
My patience is wearing thin. Oh, who are we kidding here, my patience ran out a long time ago! Which is why for the past 2 weeks I've been pissy and tense and in no mood to blog. The fuckers at NACA keep asking for more documentation and more verification and by the time this oh-so-tedious process is over, we will be so thoroughly vetted, that Obama can hire us immediately for any Cabinet position he wants!
I just want to buy a house and move on with my life. Is that too much to ask?
Apparently it is, since it doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon. In the meantime, I'll just bitch about it here occasionally. Mm-kay?
Moving on...
Remember when I told you about all the women my age suddenly either being pregnant or trying to be pregnant? Since then, one of my close friends announced over Christmas that she is due in June and ANOTHER one of my co-workers' wives (that looks funny...I don't think that's grammatically correct but you know what I mean, right? I don't work with someone who has more than one wife - as far as I know) is pregnant and due in August. Maybe I'm just more aware of people being pregnant because my own clock is becoming louder by the minute, but I don't think so.
Currently, I know 8 (EIGHT!) women who are pregnant. I know 5 women who have had a baby within the past 6 months. And who knows how many more are out there trying to get knocked up!?
And then I came across this article online from MSNBC:
Pregnancy and Birth Rate Declines in Weak Economy
by Terri Potratz, January 14, 2009
The US birth rate is expected to decline in the face of a weak economy, as couples postpone becoming pregnant until they have a bit more financial stability. The severity of the birth rate decline will be directly linked to the severity and duration of the financial situation.
Birth rates do tend to drop in times of economic uncertainty. There was a dramatic decline in fertility rates following the Great Depression in the 1930s, when, for the first time in U.S. history, women went from having an average of three children the previous decade to two.
In each year after the country’s last four recessions, general fertility rates — calculated as the number of women of child-bearing age per thousand who gave birth — dipped slightly. For example, in the year following the 1973-1975 recession, fertility rates dropped from 68.8 in 1973 to 65 in 1976, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Similarly, following the 1980-1982 recession, the fertility rate fell from 68.4 in 1980 to 65.7 in 1983.
As a result, doctors are receiving more inquiries about birth control options, and seeing a decrease in new pregnancies.
Without a doubt, in good economic times or bad, raising a child is an expensive proposition. According to “Expenditures on Children by Families,” an annual report put out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a middle-class family making more than $77,100 will spend nearly $300,000 raising a child from birth to age 17 — and that doesn’t even take into account college tuition or inflation.
Clearly Terri does not run in my social circles.
And, DAMN! did you read that last bit? - kids are expensive little suckers!
4 comments:
Ha ha! Now you sound like me ranting last year... I was drowning--literally--in baby showers. And there were some wedding showers, too, but the baby ones were most annoying. I seem to recall that someone recently told me they were pregnant and due in August, but I forgot who that was now. I think I've deliberately erased it from my memory to prevent another rant from coming on. I am sure I will receive the baby shower invitation in the mail and I'll be again reminded.
Well let it be said that I am NOT pregnant NOR do I have any desire to be pregnant...EVER!
Whew!! Amen! I'm of the same mindset!
I have to say that I really think the $300,000 figure is a bit over-inflated and wonder exactly what that includes (private sign language tutors for infants? nannies? designer duds? private school?) As for the decline, I think that's funny because I'd think they'd go UP since people don't have any money to go and do things so they stay home and, well....
As a mom (Clearly the only one who has weighed-in thus far) and at the risk of incurring the rath of the others, I can say that kids worth every penny!! Besides, you need someone to visit you when you're old and in a home!!!
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