The Parenthood Decision

Deciding whether or not to become a parent (and if so, when and how) is one of life's biggest decisions. For some people, the choice to have a child is intuitive--something they've always known they would do. Nonetheless, questions arise for them. How can I know if the time is right? What are my real reasons for wanting a child? Are my motivations questionable? For others, the question is whether or not to have a child at all. What if I want to parent and my partner does not? Am I capable of being a good parent? Is my partner? What about money issues? In The Parenthood Decision: Discovering Whether You Are Ready and Willing to Become a Parent, Beverly Engel, a licensed marriage, family, and child counselor and bestselling author (The Right to Innocence and Beyond the Birds and the Bees), takes a look at all the issues potential parents face, posits important questions, and leads readers who are struggling with a variety of dilemmas through compassionate and thoughtful decision-making exercises. Engel realizes that her soul-searching process may lead to the conclusion to wait or remain childless, and she fully supports this option, stating, "You owe it to yourself, your partner if you have one, and especially to your future baby to make your decision based on reality, not fantasy." --Ericka Lutz