I love my kids, but.....
Discussion
ali_kat said:
Sump said:
Ari said:
Sump said:
Why do parents have kids who then want them out of the house ASAP?
Because, shockingly, they turn out nothing like those winsome healthy happy helpful ones you see in movies and Bisto adverts, and they don't 'complete your life' like parents of two year olds always promise you they will as they try and lure you into the same trap they fell into.It's almost like parenthood is misrepresented somehow.
t parenting.
Ain't that the truth.Sump, when you've raised two teenage daughters you'll understand, until then you won't.
I have one sprog who moved out recently at 21 years of age. He's only 50 miles away, renting a small flat with his girlfriend. They're both perfectly happy, enjoying a good social life and working hard.
To be honest me and the Mrs are enjoying the "freedom" though that's not really the right word. We just enjoy not having to consider a 3rd person all of the time.
The boy knows that if he ever needs money or has done something stupid, he tells us. No ifs or buts, no dodgy lenders, no digging a bigger hole.
What we have noticed most is a massive reduction in food bills, a 50% reduction in washing/ironing and a 50% reduction in the rubbish we produce. I reckon gas and electric bills will drop by around 10-15% and as the wife is currently a full time student we know have a 25% discount on our council tax.
I miss having him around, but as long as I know he's OK then so am I.
To be honest me and the Mrs are enjoying the "freedom" though that's not really the right word. We just enjoy not having to consider a 3rd person all of the time.
The boy knows that if he ever needs money or has done something stupid, he tells us. No ifs or buts, no dodgy lenders, no digging a bigger hole.
What we have noticed most is a massive reduction in food bills, a 50% reduction in washing/ironing and a 50% reduction in the rubbish we produce. I reckon gas and electric bills will drop by around 10-15% and as the wife is currently a full time student we know have a 25% discount on our council tax.
I miss having him around, but as long as I know he's OK then so am I.
Vizsla said:
sunnygym said:
.......But I can't not wait until their both bathed and in bed! Finally get a couple of hours peace and quiet, steak dinner and a bottle of ice cold beer Chateau Mouton Rothschild '77. Bliss ! Ha ha
FTFY (this is PH, right?)
He checks that it's been a couple of hours on one of his Breitling watches...
Vizsla said:
sunnygym said:
.......But I can't not wait until their both bathed and in bed! Finally get a couple of hours peace and quiet, steak dinner and a bottle of ice cold beer Chateau Mouton Rothschild '77. Bliss ! Ha ha
FTFY (this is PH, right?)
..... But God they are annoying. I have a 10 year old boy who thinks wiping his arse and flushing it is optional, and a 4 year old girl who is adamant that she is the boss, meaning you have to pick your battles carefully.
This may well reflect on my own parenting skills but I don't care, I do the best I can along with my wife.
My kids though.......wouldn't change them for the world.
This may well reflect on my own parenting skills but I don't care, I do the best I can along with my wife.
My kids though.......wouldn't change them for the world.
Edited by KrazyIvan on Monday 23 November 19:00
Zod said:
Vizsla said:
sunnygym said:
.......But I can't not wait until their both bathed and in bed! Finally get a couple of hours peace and quiet, steak dinner and a bottle of ice cold beer Chateau Mouton Rothschild '77. Bliss ! Ha ha
FTFY (this is PH, right?)
Zod said:
Vizsla said:
sunnygym said:
.......But I can't not wait until their both bathed and in bed! Finally get a couple of hours peace and quiet, steak dinner and a bottle of ice cold beer Chateau Mouton Rothschild '77. Bliss ! Ha ha
FTFY (this is PH, right?)
sunnygym said:
.......But I can't not wait until their both bathed and in bed! Finally get a couple of hours peace and quiet, steak dinner and a bottle of ice cold beer. Bliss ! Ha ha
Amen to that brother...Edited to add
And tonight's tasks have just been added to by the boy crapping in the bath...
Edited by Itsallicanafford on Monday 23 November 18:55
budfox said:
I have one sprog who moved out recently at 21 years of age...
I miss having him around, but as long as I know he's OK then so am I.
I know there was more, but I just quoted the important bit I miss having him around, but as long as I know he's OK then so am I.
My son is 10, and although he can drive me bonkers at times, I will be gutted when he's gone (the same as any parent I know).
And I also know the times he drives me bonkers are most probably down to my parental deficiencies, lack of patience, and that's just kids for you
I have to say though having watched a couple of friends with teenagers, I think the challenges will only increase in about 4 years. One of my mates said he couldn't work out how he'd turned from the best dad in the world to the most unfair t
t on the planet almost overnight! WinstonWolf said:
ali_kat said:
Sump said:
Ari said:
Sump said:
Why do parents have kids who then want them out of the house ASAP?
Because, shockingly, they turn out nothing like those winsome healthy happy helpful ones you see in movies and Bisto adverts, and they don't 'complete your life' like parents of two year olds always promise you they will as they try and lure you into the same trap they fell into.It's almost like parenthood is misrepresented somehow.
t parenting. Ain't that the truth.Sump, when you've raised two teenage daughters you'll understand, until then you won't.
Coming from a Greek background, I find that somewhat difficult to understand.
g3org3y said:
Don't have kids so not 'qualified' to comment, however I have noticed that the 'OMG the kids are 18, kick them out or charge them rent' mentality seems to be a rather British phenomenon.
Coming from a Greek background, I find that somewhat difficult to understand.
Wait until you have kids!Coming from a Greek background, I find that somewhat difficult to understand.
g3org3y said:
Don't have kids so not 'qualified' to comment, however I have noticed that the 'OMG the kids are 18, kick them out or charge them rent' mentality seems to be a rather British phenomenon.
Coming from a Greek background, I find that somewhat difficult to understand.
You find it hard to understand teaching young adults that the world expects you to pay your own way...........and you come from a Greek background.......there is a joke in there somewhere Coming from a Greek background, I find that somewhat difficult to understand.
KrazyIvan said:
g3org3y said:
Don't have kids so not 'qualified' to comment, however I have noticed that the 'OMG the kids are 18, kick them out or charge them rent' mentality seems to be a rather British phenomenon.
Coming from a Greek background, I find that somewhat difficult to understand.
You find it hard to understand teaching young adults that the world expects you to pay your own way...........and you come from a Greek background.......there is a joke in there somewhere Coming from a Greek background, I find that somewhat difficult to understand.
For those who've very young children, Tim Minchin sums it up nicely here
When children get older, especially teenagers, they want to spend less time with parents.
We thought it would be great for our new house we moved into 2 years ago, that our daughters would have their own space and shower room on the 2nd floor. Now we rarely see them. At weekends it's only at mealtimes.
When children get older, especially teenagers, they want to spend less time with parents.
We thought it would be great for our new house we moved into 2 years ago, that our daughters would have their own space and shower room on the 2nd floor. Now we rarely see them. At weekends it's only at mealtimes.
My two eldest kids (boys) both 'moved out' to Uni earlier this year - and I'm missing them like hell. They'd long since left the difficult teenager stages behind, and were ultimately my closest male friends. I miss doing a few beers before hitting the Emirates of a weekend, or watching them play Sunday League followed by a few in the local, or the continuous banter, having mates/girlfriends around to feed/water, etc, etc.
I'm left with my wife and 15 y/o daughter, both of whom I adore, but both of whom are at different stages of their lives - which makes certain weeks of the month a touch 'sensitive'. I think my daughter misses the boys more than we do, as they used to spoil her rotten, run her all over the place, etc, and they'd always been very close.
Heating, petrol, and food bills are of course much lower (as is my weekly tab at the local which they of course 'never used'), and the cleaner now takes an hour less per week do her thing. However, this is comfortably off-set (and then some!) by the sheer bloody cost of funding two Uni places.
However, it does make the weekends when they do make it back very special (including 'guesting' for their old Sunday League team), and of course they will be back for extended periods at Christmas.
So at the moment it's a nice balance - but I'm not looking forward to the day their absence becomes more permanent.
I'm left with my wife and 15 y/o daughter, both of whom I adore, but both of whom are at different stages of their lives - which makes certain weeks of the month a touch 'sensitive'. I think my daughter misses the boys more than we do, as they used to spoil her rotten, run her all over the place, etc, and they'd always been very close.
Heating, petrol, and food bills are of course much lower (as is my weekly tab at the local which they of course 'never used'), and the cleaner now takes an hour less per week do her thing. However, this is comfortably off-set (and then some!) by the sheer bloody cost of funding two Uni places.
However, it does make the weekends when they do make it back very special (including 'guesting' for their old Sunday League team), and of course they will be back for extended periods at Christmas.
So at the moment it's a nice balance - but I'm not looking forward to the day their absence becomes more permanent.
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