Article: Many biological and cultural factors may contribute to the desire to have a child. However, rather than bending to immediate pressure, take time to decide whether you have the capacity to care for a child in your home for the next eighteen years, as well as helping to support it throughout your life. Understand that having a baby is not simply a time commitment. Raising a child is currently estimated to cost a quarter of a million dollars before college. Know that a child is a mental investment, as well. Studies report that new parents experience a loss of happiness that is on par with divorce and unemployment. While happiness does eventually pick up again, consider your own mental health and whether you are presently in a place to handle that level of extended mental hardship. If you grew up believing that parenthood was the only option once you grew up, take a moment and consider what it would mean for your life if you did not have children. This is simply an exercise, not a final decision, but picture what type of work, relationships, hobbies, and personal interests you might pursue if you did not have a child. Ask yourself, "Does any of this feel better to me than the option of bringing up a family?" Take note of your instinctual reaction. If there is something in your mind that does seem as appealing as parenthood, check with yourself to see if that option and raising a child truly are exclusive. How might you be able to work that career, hobby, or relationship into your life as a parent? Remember that you have no obligation to have children if you don't want them. Likewise, as long as you are legally an adult in your homeland, you have no obligation to abstain from having children if you do want them. Look around you and see if anyone is pressuring you to make this decision. If you and your partner are not on the same page about children, stop momentarily and ask yourself, "Am I considering this new stance because I am seeing things differently, or am I trying to make my partner happy?" Look at your friends and family. Have any of them been pressuring you one way or the other? If so, you may opt to keep your distance from them until you make your decision.

What is a summary?
Consider the commitment. Consider not having children. Check your obligations.