If I can’t afford a house, can I afford a second kid? [Video]

This First Person column is written by James Morrison, who lives in New Westminster, B.C. For more information about First Person stories, see the FAQ.

“When do you want to start trying?” my wife asked with a hint of anticipation — but also an undertone of worry — in her voice. 

It was a conversation we’ve had many times, familiar like a well-worn path within the garden of our minds. And it always leads to the same place. 

This time we were sitting on our deck after dinner, looking out at a beautiful view of the Fraser River while our little one slept inside. The conversation about having a second child is bittersweet. We’d both grown up with siblings and had always known that we wanted at least two children in our own family, but what we wanted to do and what felt responsible wasn’t always the same.  

“Can we afford it?” I asked.

We rent a two-bedroom …