Price of Children

[Dmitri]

Sent to me and brought a happy tear...

I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but
this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's very
sweet!

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to
18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker
shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if
you break it down.

It translates into: $8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month or $171.08 a week.
That's a mere $24.24 a day, and just over a dollar an hour!

Still, you might think the best financial advice is to not have children if
you want to be "rich". Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, & warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sand castles, and
skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain.
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how
your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* Finger-paint
* Carve pumpkins
* Play hide-and-seek
* Catch lightning bugs
* Never stop believing in Santa Claus

You have an excuse to:
* Keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh
* Watch Saturday morning cartoons
* Go to Disney movies
* Wish on stars

You get to frame rainbows, hearts and flowers under refrigerator magnets and
collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, handprints set in clay
for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck.
You get to be a hero just for:
* Retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof
* Taking the training wheels off a bike
* Removing a splinter
* Filling a wading pool
* Coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs
* Coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice
cream regardless

You get a front row seat to history by witnessing the:
* First step
* First word
* First bra
* First date
* First time behind the wheel!

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree,
and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called
grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology,
nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no
college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under
God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under
the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever,
and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without
counting the cost.

That is quite a deal for the price!

Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!

[Phoenix McHeit]

Dmitri...

BIG HUGE SQUISHY HUG from me for posting that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darn - there must be something in my eye... *sniff sniff*

[Fiona Freckl'dbottom]

Dmitri, that was beautiful...thank you!

Man...now I want a kid!

[Jess Devyne]

<<sniffle>>
Thanks Dmitri!

That really hit me today. Last weekend I bought groceries and stocked the pantry of my 20 year old son's first apartment. He's on his own now, in college...and in love!

My middle son will be 18 in April. Talking about moving to California with a friend of his (if/when that happens, can we organize a new form of "wench watch"? Like, have the wenches in the San Diego/San Clemente areas watch him for me?)

And my baby...he will be 15 this weekend. Talking about learning to drive this year...

But it was worth it! Every minute of it. I have raised some great people (imho). All the ups and downs, spending a weekend in a drug/alcohol awareness class with one (he wasn't drinking, he was caught holding the sealed bottle), speeding tickets, heartbreaks, ass chewings on occasion....so outweighed by the hugs, kisses, smiles, laughs and love.

They still hold my hand in public....can you believe that?

[Margaret]

Wow Dmitri - thanks for posting that.

[Becca]

Thanks Dmitri, I have seen it before and it's just as wonderful as the first time I read it. My first grandbaby will be here in the spring, and I get to finger paint all over again. Can't wait! ::yay::

[Leela]

With a bad cold, and my little peanut sneezing the first signs of hers, this day has been no picnic so far.

Thanks for this, Dmitri. I have to go now before I become a chew toy for the wee one.

[Artemisia]

That warmed my heart. Thank you.

[Dmitri]

See!?! I'm not ALWAYS an ass....

[Fiona Freckl'dbottom]

See!?! I'm not ALWAYS an ass....

No, you just play one on TV! :smooch:

[Pathos]

See!?! I'm not ALWAYS an ass....
But you're always a dick, right?

Or so you said yourself yesterday.

:toocool:

[Dmitri]

But you're always a dick, right?

Or so you said yourself yesterday.

:toocool:


Very true, mein freund...

[WenchyMom]

Thanks D. Made the past couple of days just a bit easier to deal with.

Your such a sweetie, even if you want everyone to believe you are a dick.

[Emrld]

Fiona - I now have coke spray all over my monitor.

See this is one of the reason's I like having Rogue's like Dimitri around . . . .He and I don't always see eye to eye . . . and both of us are ok with that . . .
Then he goes and posts something like this (forgetting the mascara alert but that's ok) And it makes me glad to know people like D who make me open my eyes and ears to other opinions.
You never know when someone elses thought will put a smile in your day.

[Alchemist23]

Very sweet. Made me smile

Still don't want kids though...I think I'd spend the money on fast food and art supplies.

Sorry, guess I got to be the smart ass today :)

[biker]

<<sniffle>>

My middle son will be 18 in April. Talking about moving to California with a friend of his (if/when that happens, can we organize a new form of "wench watch"? Like, have the wenches in the San Diego/San Clemente areas watch him for me?)


Well I can show him some ropes. Like how to pick up strippers, what to pay for a lap dance. All the important things.

[Galleywench]

A very well timed reminder to be grateful....being woken yet again before dawn after getting just a few bits of sleep, it is not quite 8 AM and Madagascar has looped 3 times today and Olivia has decided she wants my full and undivided attention this morning regardless of a grant deadline approaching.....*sigh* time to just smile, remember that all too soon she'll be making her own pancakes and not need me anymore.

[Dmitri]

A very well timed reminder to be grateful....being woken yet again before dawn after getting just a few bits of sleep, it is not quite 8 AM and Madagascar has looped 3 times today and Olivia has decided she wants my full and undivided attention this morning regardless of a grant deadline approaching.....*sigh* time to just smile, remember that all too soon she'll be making her own pancakes and not need me anymore.

Hence why I love little girls... when she's 13, she still won't mind curling up with daddy and watching a movie...

Katya hugs are my life'sblood... <shrug> never thought a simple hug could touch so deep...

[Lady Sarah]

Very sweet. Made me smile

Still don't want kids though...I think I'd spend the money on fast food and art supplies.

Sorry, guess I got to be the smart ass today :)

Honey, some people were never intended by Fate to bear children. Don't worry about it! I'm pretty sure I am one of those people. I love kids, but I just don't want the hassle of 'em.

D, very lovely, thanks for sharing!

[Phoenix McHeit]

Hence why I love little girls... when she's 13, she still won't mind curling up with daddy and watching a movie...

Katya hugs are my life'sblood... <shrug> never thought a simple hug could touch so deep...

Bingo, D. Hell, I still love curling up with MY *Daddy* (yes, I'm over 30 & still add the -dy on the end) to watch a movie!!!

And just for the record - sons sometimes do that too. My guys - ranging from 12 down to 8 - still like nothing better than snuggling during a flick.

Lucky Mama.

[Dmitri]

And just for the record - sons sometimes do that too. My guys - ranging from 12 down to 8 - still like nothing better than snuggling during a flick.


Right... with MOMMY, not with daddy...

[Aryani]

My favorite is laying down with a headache or being sick and listening to my boyfriend and my daughter getting along, then my daughter checking up on me. And the waking up from a migraine nap with a smaller body curling up under the covers and wrapping her arm over me just like I held her when she was sick. 11 yrs old and counting with my Flora and she's as precious now as she was when she was 11 hours old.

Thanks for posting that Dmitri. Makes me miss her when she's with her dad all the more. Must call her on my way home tonight and see how her bagpipe lessons are going.

[Heartless]

Sent to me and brought a happy tear...

I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but
this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's very
sweet!

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to
18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker
shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if
you break it down.

It translates into: $8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month or $171.08 a week.
That's a mere $24.24 a day, and just over a dollar an hour!

Still, you might think the best financial advice is to not have children if
you want to be "rich". Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, & warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sand castles, and
skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain.
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how
your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* Finger-paint
* Carve pumpkins
* Play hide-and-seek
* Catch lightning bugs
* Never stop believing in Santa Claus

You have an excuse to:
* Keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh
* Watch Saturday morning cartoons
* Go to Disney movies
* Wish on stars

You get to frame rainbows, hearts and flowers under refrigerator magnets and
collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, handprints set in clay
for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck.
You get to be a hero just for:
* Retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof
* Taking the training wheels off a bike
* Removing a splinter
* Filling a wading pool
* Coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs
* Coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice
cream regardless

You get a front row seat to history by witnessing the:
* First step
* First word
* First bra
* First date
* First time behind the wheel!

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree,
and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called
grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology,
nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no
college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under
God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under
the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever,
and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without
counting the cost.

That is quite a deal for the price!

Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!

Absolutely! Couldnt have said that any better!

[Mistress Lisette]

And just for the record - sons sometimes do that too. My guys - ranging from 12 down to 8 - still like nothing better than snuggling during a flick.

Lucky Mama.
Yep, and sometimes just so my son can tell me his latest plans for whatever game he's working on or story he's writing. Lucky Mama, indeed! :-D
~Lisette

[biker]

Right... with MOMMY, not with daddy...


Well D, granted Niko is only 16 months old, but I love it when he gives me hugs or falls asleep on me.

[Jules]

Thank you for reminding me why I have three beautiful reasons to pick four leaf clovers, and why one more wouldnt be so bad.

[Gemdrite]

Hence why I love little girls... when she's 13, she still won't mind curling up with daddy and watching a movie...

Katya hugs are my life'sblood... <shrug> never thought a simple hug could touch so deep...

I am 20, and I still curl up with my daddy and watch movies, or have him do my hair (yes, my daddy always did it. My mom never figured out how to do hair, but daddy could frenchbraid, and did my hair for homecoming! Would have done it for prom but he didn't know how to make my hair stay curly. Apparently, neither did the hair dresser. But I digress...) Of course, now we tend to go to bars together more than cuddle on the couch, but he always has been and always will be my daddy, til my dying day, cause I am a huge daddy's girl.

[Adriana Rose]

This made me sniff.

I still snuggle with my mum and I am not afriad to say that!



OHHHH Biker Jess is gonna get you....:snicker:

[biker]

OHHHH Biker Jess is gonna get you....:snicker:


for what this time? I was just offering to get her son needed info.

[Jess Devyne]

for what this time? I was just offering to get her son needed info.

My only requirement will be that Biker shows me these places first, then I will know what he's teaching/showing him! ::waggle::

[angela dahling]

AAHHH That was so sweet.
and alll true.
I will try to remember theese words when the twins ( 6 ) start screaming and fighting in the car

A Dahling:meow: