Raising children isn't simple or easy, but research shows there are many "not-so-obvious" benefits to having children, according to the Stroller Derby Blog at Babble.com.
A BYU study found that having children often results in lower blood pressure for parents.
"While caring for children may include daily hassles, deriving a sense of meaning and purpose from life's stress has been shown to be associated with better health outcomes," BYU's Julianne Holt-Lunstad said in a My719Moms.com article. "This doesn't mean the more kids you have the better your blood pressure. The findings are simply tied to parenthood, no matter the number of children or employment status."
Those with children also receive tax benefits from having kids. Through 2012 the child tax credit will remain at the $1,000-per-child through 2012, according to BankRate.com. Though parents will have to fill out the necessary tax forms, the credit can be a welcomed bonus.
Parents can even get better parking spots at some shopping centers that reserve stalls for pregnant women or those with families, Babble reported.
Children may try a parent's patience, but they also keep parents sane, according to recent research from Taiwan's Mental Health Foundation, reported Fox News. "The results shows that people who have children are happier and have greater satisfaction and emotional well-being than those without children," Tom Yang, the lead researcher on the study, told Fox News.
Fox News also reported that children renew a parents' thirst for knowledge through their endless questions. Parents often hear "why?" Children always want to know more and this increases a parent's desire to know why as well.
Though overall happiness from parenting can be delayed a few years, a study published in the March issue of the journal of Population and Development Review showed those parents over 40 with children were happier, according to Live Science.
"Children," study author Mikko Myrskyla said in the Live Science article, "may be a long-term investment in happiness."
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Seriously?? Reasons listed as benefits are $1000 tax credit and a few parking spaces at the grocery store?? I spend more than $1000 a year to clothe, feed, and nurture each child and the parking spots are usually filled by people without children More..
In general this terse article seems to try and string together a counter argument to the myriad of studies that show kids are a pain. However, my favorite example was this:
"Fox News also reported that children renew a parents' thirst More..
Lifesublime,
You beat me to it -- I was going to say the same thing. They cost a lot more than the $1000 return, not to mention the opportunity cost of a second income because my wife chooses to be a stay-at-home mom. I love my daughter More..