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Thinking twice about having kids even if money isn’t an issue?

There are many ways to consider whether becoming a parent is worth the effort. Here are four frames to look at.

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One of the best ways to broaden your life experience is to have children.

One of the best ways to broaden your life experience is to have children.

PHOTO: ST FILE

Kalpana Vignehsa and Matthew Hammerton

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A recent article by psychologist Amy Lim

suggests that if you’re in pursuit of social status, then you are more inclined to put off having children. But is that really the case for you? And if it is, are there better reasons to not have children, or alternatively, to change your mind about not having them?

As academics who are also parents of two feisty young children, we have examined the coin toss of having children from every angle perceivable to us. There are at least four different frames through which to explore this question. We suggest that thinking through these can help anyone considering whether to have children to get a better grip on what might be at stake in their decision.

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