Monetizing Your Child

Yesterday I was reading the paper online(does anyone get the real one anymore?), and I noticed an article about happiness in my city. So I read through it. To be honest, I agreed with a lot of the different theories from different experts in regards to what we need to be doing to be happier-i.e. have purpose in life, challenge yourself.

But there was one expert in particular I did not agree with. To sum up, he basically did a study where he monetized happiness in our life, like falling in love. Then he proceeded to say that the happiness of holding your baby for the first time, right after they are born can be equated to the happiness of someone handing you a basket of $4,000. And then he said that his study shows that people who have children only have a brief spike of happiness in the year after they are born, and then after that the happiness goes away.

I was shocked. This man was so clearly wrong. I mean, what, as soon as your baby turns one, you look at him and think to yourself, "Yep, you no longer make me happy." That's insane! Not to mention the whole $4,000 thing. I have been given larger sums of money(i.e. wedding presents), and while I was very happy to be receiving it, it in no way even slightly compares to when my son was born. That happiness was indescribable. And it's true. To people who haven't had kids, when I try to tell them about it, I can tell they don't understand the full extent.

I just can't help thinking that this man must not have had children. And to be honest, he must not have fallen in love either. Because those things you cannot monetize, you just can't. Love like that literally has no price to me. Nothing can compare to it-they are different, yet equally strong loves like no other. Clark makes me happy every day, multiple times a day. Even on days when he screams for no reason, or throws up all over me three seconds before we are due to leave the house, I love him so much. I thought of this especially today, when he woke up this morning. I walked in to get him, and there he was in his crib, babbling to himself. When he saw me, he gave me the biggest grin. I wouldn't even trade $4,000 for one of his smiles, that's how happy he makes me. Now, for one of his poopy diapers, that's a deal I'm willing to make...