How to Communicate About Children in a Marriage

Communicating about children within a marriage is absolutely vital, as agreement on that topic is one of the issues that makes for a satisfactory marriage.

Instructions

1. It would be nice to always come to an agreement before the wedding, but so often it's not done that way. A man and woman many times begin talking about children after they have been married. It's natural, however, for people to start the discussion and come to a conclusion that will satisfy both parties.

2. If a couple has agreed to start a family, they will need to discuss just how many children they want to have. They must consider the cost involved with taking care of one as opposed to two, three, four and so on. Other considerations involve their age, their health and how they want to raise the children. Decide whether the woman will work outside the home or stay home with children. Discuss everything from discipline methods to teen dating so that you are both on the same page before any little ones arrive.

3. Cost communications alone may be the final discussion point within a marriage where children are concerned. There are some eye-opening figures regarding financial output and children over the years. According to an estimate at the Babycenter website, $234,694 is what it will cost to raise a child in the Midwest and pay for them to attend a public college when the household income is between $38,000 and $64,000 annually. Of course, they tell people not to worry, as our income "is likely to increase over time."

4. If a married couple has discussed the topic endlessly and has decided with certainty that they do not want to have children, they have to consider whether or not they will have an organization or relatives to whom they would be able to leave property or financial holdings upon their deaths. This may not be something pleasant to think about, but just the same, it's important.

Tips & Warnings

• Talking and listening are two magic words in a marriage.

Resources

• Cost of raising a child and child care cost
• The cost of raising a child