BABIES

Lots of mobiles can be found at consignment shops for pennies on the dollar.

The guy is wondering how much it's going to cost to have a baby folks. Give him suggestions for how to do it on the cheap.

What makes you think he wants to do it on the cheap? What he asked is how much they cost, not how to do it for cheap. Sure, we all want to save money, but that doesn't mean he wants to outfit his kid from the swap shop either.

If he does want to do it on the cheap then I completly understand. I myself am far from being wealthy. If not then I suggest the glider/recliner combo and the locking ottoman.

One other thing for I_Money: If you are going to have more than one kid try to get furnishings that are gender nuetral so that you don't have to buy two of everything.

Relax. Do what comes naturally...get the beer and remote, put the feet up and enjoy the game

AMEN Brotha!! Nursery is PINK territory. Garage/Backyard is BLUE territory. Don't cross into the wrong territory. If my husband had FORBIDDEN me from decorating the nursery or buying a glider, he would have lost a testicle. I've spent the last 6 years snuggling, rocking, and telling stories to my kids in that glider in the nursery. As much time as the mom spends in there, she better dang well be comfortable in it.

Amen times infinity!!! P.S. Taking care of the kids w/o asking is considered foreplay. The more foreplay you do the more play you're likely to get.

I don't understand why having to ask is even an issue.

That there seems to be a need to tell dads to "help" raise their own children seems wrong... First of all, it shouldn't be called "help" - it should simply be half of the responsibility, no?

I agree there shouldn't be a need to ask, and it's not considered help, it's considered doing your share. I get really bugged when people ask my husband "oh you're babysitting tonight?" NO, that's what you do for someone ELSE'S kids. Men seem to be conditioned though, to think that their duty day ends when they clock out at work and women have been conditioned to think that any "help" is so above and beyond what should be expected of men. Some men consider it "help" to take their own dinner plate to the sink. Pretty sad IMO. But that's why when you have a man that does his share without having to be nagged to do it, it feels like foreplay!

Its definitely a pleasure/pain thing. I'm with Qgar, mine are in college/teenagers, too. The saddest time of the entire experience was when they discovered that Santa Claus wasn't real.

It occured to me that was the first episode in many losses of innocence in their lives.
It kind of broke me up.

But, all in all, its a great experience as long as you don't fall into today's "Parent Trap".

Repeat after me..."My kid will never be a professional athlete in ANY sport."

If you just remember that, you can enjoy your time at the field/pitch/rink/gym with them and not turn into a screaming, idiotic, MeeMee.

Keep after them about their academics because there's about 1000 times more scholarship money for brains as there is for athletics.

Agreed on the car seat. Purchase the best one you can afford. Spare no expense. We got the Britax Boulevard. It's good from when he was an infant through 80 pounds so we intend to use it for a while. Amazon.com has them for around $280.

I am cheap -- i'm the first to admit it. But when it comes to the safety of my family I spare no expense.

PS - I also agree that athletics are WAAAAY overemphasized in public schools. If he wants to play sports fine. But it's called "play" for a reason. If his GPA drops below a pre-agreed level, he's done. My wife taught math and music in a previous life. We both love art, theater, and music.

I hope he will find joy in whatever he does in school be it jock, band-geek, artist, actor, scholar, or member of the robotics club.

You're a pocket full of sunshine now! I actually feel sorry for your kid(s). I know you'll tell me you always took care of them, put a roof over their head, fed them, etc. but did you actually care for them?

All I know is I will never do anything as meaningful and fulfilling as raising my kids. Nothing. Have fun with it, GET INVOLVED, and ENJOY THEM.

My oldest is 12 and a girl. We are currently assuming the brace position for all the things you have mentioned. We are scared. :crazy:

Kids are great, but like they said in Jurasic Park, they epitomize chaos theory. Sometimes there's no real way to predict what they are going to do from one moment to the next. . . . .but I would not trade them for anything!

Holy cow athletics are getting so expensive too!! Just to have a decent shot at a high school team you have to play in local leagues, pay the fees, go to camps, pay the fees. I know parents who devote large portions of income to their children's athletics. And I'm not talking about $100 here and there. More into the thousands.

My mom's friend's daughter is having her third baby and in Arkansas they won't even let you leave the hospital with your baby unless it's a brand new carseat because of the deterioration. She tried to take her carseat from her last baby who is only about 2 when she thought she was going into labor last week and when they released her they told her to make sure she got a new carseat before the real deal.

Easily said at 10 weeks gestation.

There is a lot of truth to your statements . . .

:yeahthat:

You are 100% right on that one.

I can't tell you how much stuff of our kid's we have gotten from consignments store, Goodwill, etc that was actually brand new!
Tags still on it.

Don't fall for the kid's cloths trap! Have a few nice outfits, of course, but other then that go as cheap as possible!

This way when they grow out of it in 3 months, and the worn an outfit once or twice, it doesn't break your heart when you give it away.

I'm not sure if it's all of Arkansas or just that area but it's a new thing there anyways.

That's terrible because even the sponsors of all the car seat safety information say an infant carrier is good for 5 years. And considering they generally go to a specific stroller, that would mean you'd probably have to get a new stroller as well. They are going to start seeing a rise in home deliveries if they threaten to not let you take your own child if your infant seat isn't brand new.