America’s incarceration rate is in decline

Another factor which will soon impact this, if it isn't already, is the rapidly changing nature of youth. Fertility rates have been dropping since 2009 or so. Average age of parents is increasing. Teen pregnancy on a long and rapid decline.

All of these working together means that each year the act of having a child is much more deliberate and the parents likely having more resources. Which in turn should mean fewer youth delinquency, which as the article notes is how most in prison started out.

This is both good and bad. Having a child is very difficult, but it gets harder as you get older. You lack a lot of monitory resources as a teen or the early 20s, but you have a lot more energy, as you get older your body starts decaying you will lack energy. A kid had at 40 will still be depending on your when you are 55 (kids is only 15), and if the kids goes to college may have some dependency on you when your peers are retiring. Plus if your kids have kids young as well as you, you be around and have some energy for grandkids.

Don't read the above as advocating having kids too young, it is not. However don't wait until you think it is the perfect time. If you are 25 you should be seriously thinking in the next 2 years, and by 30 have them (if of course kids are right for you - that is a complex consideration I'm not going to get into). Do not let fear of how much it will cost or desire for more resources first stop you from having kids when you are still young enough to do well.

I had my kids 25-35; all 5 are adults. We live together as is befitting a 4 income economy.

> and if the kids goes to college

Do you mean go away to college? Yeah. No.

> may have some dependency on you when your peers are retiring.

Me and peers are all working grey. End of career happens with first major illness intersects with the lack of health insurance and we die.

> Plus if your kids have kids

If one of my a sons pairs off with someone and they both work, they'll still be 2 typical incomes short of self sustenance.

BUT, if they got married and then married another couple, the 4 of them only have to find one more adult - the one who will parent during the work day. After the last child enters school, the core 4 can kick parent 5 to the curb.

> Do not let fear of how much it will cost

No fear. Just math.

> or desire for more resources first

But if they had more resources they might only need 3 or even 2 adults working full time to afford basic bills.

> Do not let ... it ... stop you from having kids when you are still young enough to do well.

Parents can (and do) parent while living in their car...