Children Are Very Expensive--A Huge Investment

(this is a write-up of a conversation I had with Abouna about his parenting lessons learned; his thoughts, my voice)

A friend once asked us about the cost of raising a baby. We pulled out the calculator and did our best to estimate, but we quickly realized that the biggest cost of having a baby is time.

Looking back at the last few months since having our second child--what did he cost us? A few packages of diapers and wipes? But the true cost--the real investment--was 24/7 love, attention, and care.

Children cost time. Whether you give them that time or you pay someone else to spend time with them, that's up to you. But if you're waiting for that promotion or trying to "save up" for the baby, it's an empty exercise. Especially in the first two years, deep nourishment of love and attention is the number one price you'll pay.

Prioritize investing time in your children and prayerfully wait for the fruits of your labor.