By Roger Chesley The Virginian-Pilot June 7, 2012 Parents don't always consider the costs of having a child - atleast, not right away. First, they have to come up with possible names. Then diapers, whether to pick cloth or disposable. They'll soon see toothless grins and yellow baby clothes. There are lots of weighty responsibilities. And indescribablewonder - the kind experienced, for instance, when their infantsslumber blissfully upon their chests. If he drools, so what? That's what bibs and towels are for. Shoot, if parents knew the monetary expense that accompanied allthis worry and pride, lost sleep and joy, they'd becomeshellshocked. The Pilot's Context page recently noted the high costs of raising achild from birth to age 17. The U.S. Department of Agriculture hasreleased annual estimates since 1960; new statistics will come outin a few weeks, a department official said Wednesday. "[T]otal family expenses on a child through age 17 would be$206,180 for households in the lowest income group, $286,860 forthose in the middle, and $477,100 for those in the highest incomegroup," the USDA said. In the middle-income group, the figuresrepresented a 25 percent increase over the past decade. The numbers don't include the cost of sending these erstwhilelittle bundles to college. If you add the fees for room and board,that's tens of thousands more. Yikes. In its analytical way, the USDA report cites chapter and verse onthe challenges of parenting. It's designed to provide a dry,straightforward glimpse of bringing up baby. Sadly, the report has no place for the intangibles or those itemsthat moms and dads gladly incur because of the task they've chosen. I'm not blaming the feds. I just wanted to see some encouragementfor the World's Most Important Job. As trite as it sounds, nothingcompares to being a parent. Many people punt on this responsibility, of course. In Chesapeake,noncustodial parents are in arrears in support payments by morethan $117 million, said Col. Jim O'Sullivan of the Sheriff'sOffice. More than 80 percent of noncustodial parents are men. We know that high rates of out-of-wedlock births jeopardize thewell-being and income levels for children in single-parentfamilies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted thatin 2009, 41 percent of births in the country were to single women.The percentage for African Americans was much higher. Men need to be involved in their children's lives, and not justfinancially. From helping out with homework, to playing chauffeurfor after-school activities, to simply being a trusted source ofadvice. What some guys don't understand is the pride they'll feel at each"A" their child earns in school. The awe they'llexperience when their offspring mimics something they've taught.The comfort they'll provide when their sons and daughters fightsetbacks. It's easy for the government to add up the expense of diapers,doctor's visits, food and housing. The price of guidance, love and joy in raising children? That's incalculable. Catch Roger and other local pundits on "Another View,"covering issues involving African Americans in Hampton Roads, on89.5 WHRV-FM at noon Friday. Roger Chesley, 757-446-2329, roger.chesley@pilotonline.com , pilotonline.com/chesley, /RogerChesley. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Stainless Steel Sheet Manufacturer , Stainless Steel Wire Ropes for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Stainless Steel Round Bar Stock.
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