Planning for Parenthood: Establishing Fundamentals

As my wife and I head into our second year of married life, the topic of having kids has recently taken the front seat. We are not expecting yet, but we have begun thinking about various aspects that will most matter when it comes to growing the family:

• physical & mental health
• living environment
• household finances
• education (for the parents)

I've never been a parent before, and knowing myself, I thrive on the confidence of preparedness -- believing that "fortune favors the prepared."

So here is a breakdown of how I am approaching these topics:

Getting our health in check

It goes without saying that the couple's health is of utmost importance. Without it, everything else just falls apart and it becomes difficult to positively start a family. While "health" is often a huge expanse that is hard to pin down, focusing on the primary "pillars" helps translate into simple actions to adapt in daily life.

To me, these pillars are physical fitness, sleep, nutrition, and mental fitness. Though "pillars" may sound like standalone aspects that don't matter to each other, they are inter-related in supporting the human body. For example, a lack of sleep will certainly impair your ability to lift heavier weights and increase cravings for junk food -- they all cascade across one another in big ways. But as long as these pillars are standing strong together, everything else sort of just "works" and falls into place.

Juggling the balance between sedentary work and a healthy body can be a modern challenge. This is absolutely paramount since I am a software engineer by trade and spend a lot of time sitting at a desk. Over the recent years, I have noticed my lower back becoming more prone to stiffness and discomfort. This year, I would like to particularly strengthen my physical fitness through adding more consistent mobility routines to my weekly schedule, to provide more resilience for the body as it ages.

Sleep and nutrition have more or less been in check for me last year (though not perfect). Keeping a regular step count throughout the day and avoiding late-night meals are two simple habits that have helped me maintain a good baseline. On the nutrition end, my wife is very big on preparing home-cooked meals for most days, which really keeps nutrition under control.

Finding the right living environment

This one might be on the backburner for a couple years, as we are currently settled in a comfortable apartment that meets our needs. However, I do want to be mindful of the living environment as we think about having kids in the future. So I'd consider this pillar as a nice-to-have at this point. As for I'd like to keep on a lookout for neighborhoods that have:

• close by spacious parks for taking walks and getting fresh air
• close by quality supermarkets (mostly domestic sources)
• close by decent shopping areas private shopowners

Managing cash flow and finances

As we are a relatively young couple in our 30s and are both still working, our household income as per lifestyle costs are fairly balanced. Last year, we had large one-time expenses related to our wedding and honeymoon, which did put a slight dent in our savings. However, 2026 should be the year where we can get back on track with rebuilding our emergency fund and increasing investments.

As part of the savings, we are also looking into investing a portion of our income into low-cost index funds, to help grow our wealth over the long term while protecting against inflation.

Learning about parenthood

Finally, I think it's important to start learning about parenthood itself. There are many aspects to consider, from the physical demands of pregnancy and childbirth to the emotional and psychological changes that come with becoming a parent. I personally want to be there for my wife throughout the journey, and being informed will help me provide better support. I will probably be doing this by reading books, podcasts, and talking to my sister who is already a mother. Actual classes will probably be more relevant closer to the time when we are expecting.

Conclusion

Overall, planning for parenthood is a multifaceted process that requires attention to various aspects of life. By focusing on health, living environment, finances, and education, my wife and I are laying a strong foundation for our future family. While there is still much to learn and prepare for, taking these initial steps gives us confidence as we embark on this exciting journey together.