Count the time cost of raising a child by whose time gets taken up, not by how tiring it is
- Moderate value
- Evidence C
- Saves time
- Free
- Takes time daily
- Long-term effort
In plain words
Turn the hours a day spent watching the child and the number of times you are woken at night into time. Then multiply by the hourly wage of the person doing the work. The number you get is usually far larger than the cost of formula and diapers. So it is best to agree on who does what before the baby is born.
- Cost
-
Free; what it costs is time. Before age 3 the day is mostly taken up. The hard part is that it is like this every day, and you can't just grit your teeth for a few days and be done.
- What you get
-
Turn the time spent each day looking after the child and the number of times you are woken at night into hours. Then multiply by the hourly wage of the person doing the work. The number you get is usually far larger than the cost of formula and diapers. Looking after the child, cooking and getting up at night are not paid for by anyone, but they are recorded as costs in the same way. The method is the same as the one §10 uses for housework. Agree on who does what first, then decide whether to have the child.
- Notes
-
The numbers do not have to be exact. What helps is that the two of you talk over who does what, looking at the same table, before the baby is born, so you don't argue about it afterward.
- Evidence grade
- C : The author's experience or common practice, without direct literature.
- Sources
-
- 作者经验，无直接文献
- 口径见第 10 节
Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 18, tip 4. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer