A lot of factors influence whether couples decide to have children or not. Having children has a huge impact in couples in a variety of ways. It impacts the career patterns of the parents, the pattern of housework, the distribution of power, marital satisfaction, and the economic well-being of the unit. If the couples are younger and still in school it could be a big set back then those who are older and already have established jobs. In some societies there is a pervasive cultural pressure toward parenthood. Its said the couples not only should have children but want to have them. Economic factors also influence whether or not couples decide to have children. Financially, children are a significant burden. The average middle income family will spend an average of $160,140 to feed, clothe, house, and educate a child from birth until age 18. There is a couple reasons why long-term fertility rate has declined steadily including marrying late, high divorce rate, majority of women in the labor force, two incomes required for many couples to maintain a desired lifestyle, delayed childbearing, and legal abortions. The age couples decide to have children, if they decide to, is becoming increasingly older. Now that women are in the workforce more than ever the average is about 25years old. I think that people in their late teens and early twenties are approaching these decisions differently is because birth control has become more available now than it has and with women going into the workforce they concentrate more on going to college and they know the pregnancy would reduce if not destroy those chances. Back then parents would usually just finish high school and were able to start families as most women were homemakers. So the trend now is that couples are waiting until they are ready both emotionally and economically to have children.
