One of the questions that people tend to ask is something along the lines of this; “will having a child give me more purpose in life?”

Depending on the context of this question and who’s asking, it can either be a good or bad thing. For some people that find it difficult to take an interest in things in life, searching for a purpose can be challenging. If you’ve been worn down by an average working life and very few exciting encounters, then it can feel like you’re slowly losing your purpose in life.

On the other hand, others might feel like having a child is something that really kicks their life into action. They feel that their child has become one of the most important things in their life. Now they act more responsibly, they take better care of themselves so they can take care of their child, and they act more like adults.

But the idea of having a child just to add purpose to your life can be dangerous.

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Having a child won’t suddenly change who you are

It’s important to remember that having a child isn’t going to instantly change who you are. It’s not going to transform you overnight. Additionally, as we’ve seen across the country, it’s not uncommon for people to abandon their child, send them to a foster home, or even neglect to take care of them. If you don’t have the right mindset for having a child, then you’re not going to be a good parent. If your circumstances aren’t right for raising a child, then they’re going to grow up in difficult circumstances that will have a negative impact on their life.

With that said, having a child under the right circumstances can certainly add a lot of value to your life and will teach you many different lessons. It can teach you to be more responsible, it can lead to a more fulfilling life, and it can definitely supplement your existing life. However, it’s vital that you don’t just overlook the other things that could be happening in your life. If there’s really nothing that makes you happy or helps you get up early in the morning, then having a child won’t fix those underlying problems.

Planning ahead with your financial situation

Some people find that the idea of raising a child in the future can help them build responsible habits early on. For instance, working at home is a great way to secure your financial situation alongside a day job. Moreover, it can even be used when you’ve had a child. As such, having a remote job or starting up your own business means that you can stay at home and look after your child while you work. This isn’t a luxury afforded to everyone, so just the idea of becoming a parent in the future could be enough to motivate you to do better now.

Planning ahead with your financial situation like this can be a huge help when you finally have your child. However, if you’re already struggling with your finances, then don’t look at having a child as a way to suddenly fix this. For example, having a child doesn’t mean you can instantly gain access to benefits and other government benefits. It doesn’t mean that you’re necessarily going to work harder to provide for them, and it doesn’t mean it will fix your existing habits to take better care of them.

While it can be rather morbid to think about, the last thing you want is to be looking into children grave markers for your child. The money you save should be used for things like their college tuition, their first car, or even toys to make them a happy child. You should be planning ahead in positive ways even before you have your first child. Failing to do this will create an unstable financial situation which leads to a negative parenting experience and a difficult upbringing for your child.

Some final words: Can A Child Give Purpose to Life?

Having a child certainly can enhance your purpose in life, but don’t look at it as a way to instantly generate a purpose that motivates you to do things. If you lose that motivation, then there’s a child’s life and wellbeing on the line. Make sure you have a solid foundation before you even think about having children. If you’re looking for a purpose in life, then it’s vital that you look for one even before you have your first child.