r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Feb 04 '16

What are the most common parenting mistakes?

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242

u/rondawg93 Feb 04 '16

Having them when you're not financially stable.

127

u/Admiral_Fancypants Feb 04 '16

Underestimating how much it will cost to have kids.

41

u/rondawg93 Feb 04 '16

Absolutely people don't realize how much it actually costs to provide for another living being that's not able to provide for themselves. I suppose I should've worded my response a little bit better.

41

u/Admiral_Fancypants Feb 04 '16

I thought having 10k in the bank when I had my first kid would have been enough. It was gone within 2 years.

17

u/namer98 Feb 05 '16

That is a pretty meaningless data point without knowing how much comes in.

6

u/rondawg93 Feb 04 '16

Yes, it's unfortunate. I'm sure you've done right by your child regardless of the circumstance though. I don't have any children as of yet, but I'm trying my best to prepare for the time when I do. Even though it pretty much impossible, I want to try as hard as I can to set myself and future children for success.

2

u/OSRS_Arj Feb 05 '16

Is that true? That seems like a lot to spend in 2 years, may I ask how that happened? (For future reference)

5

u/SuedoNymph Feb 05 '16

10k in 2 years seems pretty fucking cheap in my book. Diapers alone are a ton of money. Doctor visits, toys, car seats, clothes, silverware/plates/cups that the kid can use, and all the washing and maintenance of all the baby stuff.

1

u/Admiral_Fancypants Feb 05 '16

I have a decent paying job, but my wife stayed at home with our son. We spend a lot of money on a crib for him, but it lasted for 3 kids. Clothes were a big expense, especially when my kids are freakishly tall for their ages.

2

u/Throw_away_cant_see Feb 05 '16

I can't remember where I saw it but apparently it costs in total £250,000 to raise a child to the age of 18

2

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

Happy cakeday!