Affording kids

Well today I've been thinking about what it means to "afford" kids. I am between the "you must have everything" and the "you don't need anything" crowds. I think that its best if you are able to provide a certain number of things for your children, but you don't need to be well-established and with a high paying job before you can have kids either. Love is the most important ingredient, but a sprinkling of opportunity and those enjoyable little extras tossed in can be really great for both kids and parents. For example, its not necessary, but I would like to be able to give David lessons in things that interest him. Maybe he could play little league baseball, and take piano lessons, and if I really reach far take swim lessons as well. I think those are great opportunities for kids, and what fun! I would like that for him. I cut corners where we can, I went to garage sales and got tons of fall clothes for David. They look new, and are brand names too. I find that the "rich" people only have one child of each sex before being done with children and so when they sell their clothes (which they bought a large supply of) they are practically new. I love children and I would love to have a large family, but I also want to be able to give them some of those extra opportunities, and so I will have a smaller family if necessary to give them those.