A very good reason to have kids?
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Hi Guys,
Just read an interesting article on how having a bunch of kids can be good for ones continuing health!
It seems from research at Carnegie Mellon University by Sheldon Cohen and colleagues, that kids somehow beef up the parents immune system. They shot some flue viruses and rhinoviruses, whatever they are, up folks noses and discovered that folks with kids were 48% less likely to develop colds and flu.
And, it seems the more kids you have the less likely you are catch the flu and colds. It appears to be the case that one's immunity remains even after the kids have flown the nest. They don't say it, but I imagine the kids would have to be living with you at some stage for the immune system to develop
The boffins speculate that one's kids 'brings happiness and reduces stress levels, which can boost the immune system' or that 'parents don't have time to get sick - so they don't'. I'd like to think its the the first reason
I have two kids, now flown the nest and I think there could well be some merit to this research as I have not caught the flu or even had colds in donkeys years. Then again I have been getting flu shots over the past 5 years
What are your thoughts on this.Mike
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Someone have to take care of that children. So, it's all arranged. If you give, it is given to you. Surely there is also a scientific explanation...
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You develop immunity because you're getting sick nearly every year because the kids pick up the bugs at school. You might gain later on in life because you've built that immunity, but it will be at the cost of getting ill more times in the first place.
A good reason to have kids? An 18+ year sentence of taking care of kids or getting ill from flu a few times. I'll take the flu, thanks.
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I see the logic in the article, however they may lessen your chances of getting a flu but they cost a bloody fortune, turn your hair grey, think they know everything at the age of 13, and eat you out of the house.
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.... well, as I said, its behind me and on reflection I would not have had it any other way.
While in the process it all seems a natural thing, then again I was young enough when Pauline and I got married (24 and 25) so we didn't give things a lot of thought. Our friends where getting married and planning to have kids and it was generally seen to be the done thing.
I see over the past few years that all this cost is being quantified. Its looks like we have spent over โฌ300K getting the kids raised and educated! As I said, we never thought much about it while it was happening, just got on with it. I sure could do with that โฌ300K these days
But as I said, I still would not have it any other way.Here is an interesting article (UK) on the cost of raising kids. How much does it cost to raise a child? http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/feb/23/cost-raising-child
I see that child care is a big chunk! Back in the day, it was a case of the mother staying at home and taking care of the kids but over the past 15 years or so this has all changed. I honestly don't think its totally the case the the mothers insist on continuing to work outside the home, it looks more to be the case that they have to continuing in jobs in order to keep the roof over head.
On the other hand I see no issue with the father being the parent to stay in the house minding kids, it would simply, for me, be a case of who can pull in the most from outside work. I think this arrangement is common enough in Scandinavian counties but again they appear to be more advanced in this thinking than the rest of the Western World.
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