P&K Insider

First- I’m not having another baby. Not because of the economy but because of my goal in keeping my sanity!

That being said, historically speaking, the nation’s birthrate tends to dive during tough economic times. We’re in it right now.

There was a great article on this very topic in the Milford Daily News recently. In it reporter Michael Morton writes:

When a 46-year-old patient recently canceled a vasectomy reversal, a curious Dr. B.G. Parulkar of Marlborough Hospital asked him why.

The man’s reason? Second thoughts after taking into account both his job status in a plunging economy and the cost of adding another mouth to feed.

“Do I really need to have one more kid in this economy?” said Parulkar, a urologist, summarizing the decision.

Before the age of 2, a child can cost at least $7,800 a year, based on a U.S. Department of Agriculture study adjusted for inflation. While Parulkar’s case is just one example of a family planning decision, it could foreshadow the re-emergence of a historical trend: Lower birth rates during times of economic distress.

What about you? Does the economy play a part in your decision to have another child?

Read Michael’s entire article here

When the latest issue of TIME magazine arrived in my mailbox, I had to tear it open to page 31.There in the headline was the answer to my most pressing question “How to Save Your Newspaper.”

As a magazine editor, I’m all too familiar with the challenges facing print journalism. More and more people are choosing to get their news online…for free…leaving print media heavily dependent on ad revenues as their only source for profit. Why will people pay for news via a subscription or newsstand sales when they can simply go online for free content?

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If you’re looking for some fun CHEAP ways to spend your February vacation, be sure to tune into NECN on Monday morning at 8:45 a.m.

I’ll be there to share my best bets for this winter break.

I’m a lucky one. My son still wants a kiss at the bus stop. I manage to cross the street and position us right next to the bus door, then I discreetly peck his cheek before he climbs the steps. If he had it his way he’d kiss me in full view of the entire bus. This re-positioning is my way of protecting him (and not give those other kids a reason to tease him).

Our goodbyes don’t stop there. As soon as he finds a seat by the window he peers over the top. I can barely see the rims of his glasses but every day, without question, he waves and blows me a kiss. I catch it in my hand and press against my cheek and watch his sweet smile drift from my sight.

I know this won’t last forever. I know it. He won’t kiss me when he’s 13. But one thing that won’t change and you know what that is – I’ll love that kid forever.

In my work, I’m often privileged to meet people who inspire me as a parent – especially those, who despite immense challenges, are deeply devoted to their children. Like Scott and Doreen Kelly of Foxboro. Their 11-year-old son Kevin has autism and is participating in a sports class at the Hockomock YMCA in Foxboro. His movements are sometimes jerky and I’m sure he’s anxious about the attention our cameras and questions bring. He lets his parents answer.

“We’re really enjoying this,” said Scott, as he smiled at Kevin. “We get to work as a team and soon we’ll be competing in a race when we have to run two miles. It’s been nice training as a family.”

Kevin’s parents are literally by his side – on the bikes, in the pool and on the track. That’s the idea behind the integration program at the Y. Allowing typically developing peers and/or family members to team up with children with special needs and together benefit from youth sports participation.

The story idea struck me when I was reading a national report that there are not enough sport opportunities for children with special needs. I’m happy to report that we’re bucking that trend locally as P&K Special Needs liason Wendy Bulawa reports in our cover story on youth sports.

Quite notably, it was a parent who inspired this Y program to begin with. No doubt, she was driven by love and a desire to help her child be strong, healthy and involved.

Here’s to all the parents who love deeply - Happy Valentine’s Day!

Heather Kempskie