Having kids: anyone regret it?

[Buster]

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My opinion is with 1 at least you have a built in support system for a parent to get some air.

With 2 you have to rely on external support for real downtime.

If you have one kid and take him to the store, you are a hero.

If you have two kids and take one to the store, you are merely pulling your weight.

If you have three kids and take one to the store, you are practically shirking your duties.

[killramos]

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If you have one kid and take him to the store, you are a hero.

If you have two kids and take one to the store, you are merely pulling your weight.

If you have three kids and take one to the store, you are practically shirking your duties.

Hero has a nice ring to it

[tirebob]

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What do you mean? Both of us take turns on managing all 3 so the other can go out with friends (well I guess it's drinking on Zoom these days). Hell we both travel for work and have managed 3 for a week at a time. 1, 2, or 3 would make no difference? Or am I reading what you're saying wrong?

Or using that free time to help techo-peasants get VPN'd into their work computers... You so Cray-Cray!

[rage2]

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Or using that free time to help techo-peasants get VPN'd into their work computers... You so Cray-Cray!

I wouldn’t be able to do that during the earlier peak years that’s for sure haha.

[ThePenIsMightier]

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If you have one kid and take him to the store, you are a hero.

If you have two kids and take one to the store, you are merely pulling your weight.

If you have three kids and take one to the store, you are practically shirking your duties.

Wrong. If you have any kids and you take any of them to the store, you're giving them CoVid and you're worse than Hitler.
Eye doctors aren't letting more than one child in per parent, and then they get mad and make you wait outside because you've made them over capacity if 4 of you show up.
BertStare.jpg

[The_Rural_Juror]

Can't kids wait outside in the car?
BertStare.jpg

[zechs]

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Giving people the benefit of the doubt is generally considered the magnanimous path, specifically designed to take the air out of conflict. It doesn't usually result in making life more tough.

But you were being a dickhead first. For someone so smrt, you'd think you'd recognize when you yourself antagonize people. Or maybe you just don't notice you are being like that, if I was giving you the benefit of the doubt. :Rolleyes:

Not that 89coupe was being much better, I can certainly imagine shit getting on the floor fairly easily. At the same time, I can see it not being too hard to keep it off if it concerned a person. Disposable baby diapers are pretty durable, but I'm sure shit happens.

[The_Rural_Juror]

I am gravely concerned about the COVID situation right now.

[you&me]

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Here's what I have determined based on exhaustive polling and my own experience: the first is a massive step into a new world, the second doubles the workload of the first, the third doubles the workload of the previous two combined, but the fourth does not double the work again. We never had a 4th because my wife make some very credible threats to my safety.

As someone that took that extra step, I can concur this is accurate. By #4, there are processes in place, the others are older and (slightly) more self-sufficient (i.e. no diapers) and frankly, you know all their tricks and you're otherwise numb to the world

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Did any of you guys feel really ready for kids, like "yep we're all setup let's do this" ?

We did all the pre-natal classes & had all the gear at home (like most first-timers, went way overboard!), but still the single biggest mind-fuck of my entire life was walking out of the hospital the first time with my first born... A total "holy shit, they're really just letting us leave like this with the baby? Now what?" moment... Surreal.

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You forgot about sports, extracurriculars, added expenses on vacations etc. Our high school health teacher told us each kid costs around $250K throughout their lifetime (unadjusted for inflation from 20 yrs ago) and that's probably not that far off.

As you said, that probably doesn't include extracurriculars, sports, additional costs for things like travel (extra plane tickets, extra hotel rooms, larger rental cars) and even casual dining out (even McD's seems stupid)... Sure as heck doesn't cover private school... I think I know where my 7.2 went

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What do you mean? Both of us take turns on managing all 3 so the other can go out with friends (well I guess it's drinking on Zoom these days). Hell we both travel for work and have managed 3 for a week at a time. 1, 2, or 3 would make no difference? Or am I reading what you're saying wrong?

This is something that can't be overstated about having more than one kid and if nothing else, the pandemic has made me grateful for having more kids. To be completely honest, it's been pretty easy (though I'm sure my wife would savagely beat me if she heard me say that )... The kids are able to play together and keep each other entertained, which IMO is far better than having to solely rely on plopping them in front of a screen to keep them out of your hair.

Anways, back to the general topic - all said and done, kids are great. As someone else said, you really need to treat it like everything else - anything worth doing is worth doing right and if you're going to have kids, you want to do it right. Like anything else, you need to be prepared. That means having the financial means; having sufficient investment from the parents; and having sufficient support. They're kind of the reason we exist and while it can be hard, and challenging and draining and consuming, the reward is still much greater.

[Tik-Tok]

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The kids are able to play together and keep each other entertained, which IMO is far better than having to solely rely on plopping them in front of a screen to keep them out of your hair.

You call it "getting them out of your hair", I call it preparing for a lifetime of working in front of a screen

[The_Rural_Juror]

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You call it "getting them out of your hair", I call it preparing for a lifetime of working in front of a screen

I agree. Imagine if our ancestors limited book-time.

[The_Rural_Juror]

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Sure as heck doesn't cover private school... I think I know where my 7.2 went

Dad?

[89coupe]

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What in the fuck happened last night Has no Beyonder ever used him? Not that he needs anyone here anyways

Imagine all the money you would save if you did?

I’ve met a handful of Beyonders

Most are surprised when they meet me.

[killramos]

You’re that much shorter in person?

[The_Rural_Juror]

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You’re that much shorter in person?

He is.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

How do you know how tall anyone is? You just carry a towel rack around with you?

[The_Rural_Juror]

Pretty much. A regulation towel rack is 48".

[vengie]

I love the direction this just took.
Paging @M.alex

[The_Rural_Juror]

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I love the direction this just took.
Paging @M.alex

I'm sure he doesn't own a pager. He's no doctor.

[M.alex]

that towel rack sits high on the wall damn it :p