Becoming a parent is a matter of choice. Yet some people act as if they are not responsible for their children, as if children are a matter of chance. This is just wrong. The truth is that no child comes by chance. They come as a result of peoples’ choices to enter sexual relationships, not use contraceptives and not think seriously about what they are doing. It may be easy – for a man at any rate – to produce a child, but raising one is another matter.

This is something that needs to be thought about… seriously.

Everyone must consider whether the are ready to be parents or not before having children. Couples have to think about their ability to finance a child’s upbringing. They have to think about what will happen when the baby is born. Who is going to look after the baby? Will the mother get a job? Will they have to pay someone to do it? What will the consequences of doing so be?

That child is going to add significantly to the family’s expenses and plans are going to have to be changed in order to accommodate its needs.

Sacrifices will have to be made.

Desires will have to be forgone.

And this is a matter of at least 18 years.

If you are willing to do this then sure, go ahead and have a child.

If you’re not, then for God’s sake and everyone else’s, don’t.

Vernal Campbell is a past president of the Hopewell Citizen’s Association.