Research Paper on Irresponsible Parenting

"How many kids do you want?" is one of the most frequently asked questions to couples. Although we can all agree that having children is both a rewarding and natural thing in life, it is also a great responsibility. When deciding how many children to have, there are many advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered. Others believe that the more kids, the merrier, and that couples should have as many as they want as long as they can provide. However, it is irresponsible to have many children when the downside is greater than the upside: having a big family is like skating on thin ice of financial problems; the children's welfare is not ensured when growing up in a home where the parents' attention is too divided; and the impact it has on the struggling world.

A study shows that poverty levels are highest in large families; the risk of poverty associated with an increased number of children is 44–50% for 1 child and 60–78% for those with 5. A responsible parent that wants to have many children should be financially ready to provide their children with a comfortable standard of living. However, that is not often the case. Poor and middle-income families are shown to have more children compared to upper-class families. Being economically disadvantaged results in the decrease of wealth and the poor getting poorer with children that are starving. But how about the effect of financial struggles on the family? Family financial problems lead to distress. Some couples fight over spending habits and money-related issues. Sometimes disagreements over money become so severe that they lead to divorce.

In addition to financial irresponsibility, parents are not able to provide the emotional support each of their children needs. Parents only have enough time for the competing demands of a big household so that parental care and responsibility are distributed unfairly to each child. For instance, a study shows that parents focuses more on the youngest because they think they are more in need, often undermining the needs of others. This negatively impacts the least favored child's growth. Moreover, research also found that corporal punishment was 10 times more likely in a family with too many kids. Parents become frustrated and, as a way to survive and maintain order in the home, they quickly find that paddling and smacking ways to discipline their kids. This however only results to mental and behavioral issues in adulthood. As we look into it, it's a more responsible decision to have a lower number of children so you can pay enough attention to nurturing and provide for their needs. Better parenting results in a well-adjusted child. 

Lastly, the procreation of many children without once considering adoption is irresponsible economically and environmentally. When we think about the world and how it operates, we realize that there are a limited number of resources on Earth, such as food, water, land, and oil. As the human population continues to grow exponentially, it puts huge strains on our resources. further hampering the development of a country as well as its sustainability. Besides, every time you have a child, you are adding 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere every year. We must understand that future generations are going to suffer. Even with our little ways, it counts and matters.

With all these reasons, I can conclude that it's irresponsible to have many children financially, socially, economically, and environmentally. So, if you want to bring many children into the world, you should carefully consider every side first, because it's not about you anymore; children are every possibility: virtue and vice, a life to live.