The price of children

Summer Fun

Banned
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Messages
2,251
The price of children​

This is just too good not to pass on to all. Here is something absolutely positive for a change. 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 nice.
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month,
* $171.08 a week.
* A mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is; don't have children if you want to be 'rich.' Actually, it is just the opposite.
What do you get for your $160,140.00?
* 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, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the
boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140.00, 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, and
* wish on stars.
You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay forMother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.
For a mere $24.24 a day, 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, and
* coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets
treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat in history to witness 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 & great-grandchildren!!!!!!! It's the best investment you'll ever make!!!!!!!!!
smile.gif
smile.gif
 

eaglejim

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Feb 2, 2008
Messages
1,006
Re: The price of children

Very well put,and now I am enjoying my two as young adults.:D
 

chicknwing

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 16, 2008
Messages
411
Re: The price of children

Nice. I really like that. Can see all those rewards everyday with my girls. :D

DSCN0965.jpg


TC
 

Woodnaut

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 4, 2007
Messages
634
Re: The price of children

Not to mention just about the best fishing partner in the whole world. :)

DadandStephHoldingShark01.jpg
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: The price of children

Children are immortality in real time.
 

ezbtr

Captain
Joined
May 1, 2002
Messages
3,110
Re: The price of children

and is why I thank God for my son (10) and I'm 44!!!
I started young (22) AND GIRLS ARE NOW 20 AND 22 (damn this laptop kbd and my big hands) - had/having a blast with them all!
Is funny my son asked me the other night, "Dad whats your hobby besides fishing"? LOL...............
He's here 50-60% especially during baseball season(now), and he sees me work a lot, helps me clean,cook etc here, get him to games, practices, I help coach(going on 10 yrs now - did w/ his 1/2 brothers since 99, then him since he was 4) .
and the most hearfelt comment was...."Geez dad if you didnt have kids you would own 2 homes at least and be rich!"
wow - what a statement - my reply was "I could care less about material/money things, I am rich in kids and love them all"
and THAT makes my life - sure work is great etc...but I dont think twice bout telling boss we have a weekday game(s), and they respect me for it, course I have spent the night(like 24 hours) when i HAD to at work to fix mission critical issues to get ships in etc - weird how BALANCE works out, course the yin and yang tat doesnt hurt either, LOL :)
 

jay_merrill

Vice Admiral
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
5,653
Re: The price of children

I became a father for the first time at the age of 51. At first, it was a whirlwind of excitement and then the reality of it set in. I admit to feeling a little scared, wondering if I was going to have the energy for it all.

Three years later, I am loving it and that is true because, for every moment of "parenthood reality," I get loads of chuckles and love. The sun doesn't go down here - the sky goes away. I now know the names of most of the tank engines on Thomas the Tank Engine, and I know that the name of the cat on Shrek is pronounced PU-sssssssssssssssssssss! I also know that it is absolutely essential that the checkout girl at Walmart mustn't hold the "nanas" for even a fraction of a second too long while weighing them, because my little man SURELY WILL DIE, if he doesn't get them back in a nanosecond!

Mostly, I know that when my child wraps his arm around my leg when he is feeling shy, or bursts into a fit of giggles when I am being "the ticklemonster," my heart is filled with a type of love that isn't found anywhere else.

And just think, all of this for $24.24 a day!
 

Mike Robinson

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 29, 2005
Messages
752
Re: The price of children

What a great post! I too am an older father, I'm 50, my stepson is 17 and my son is 3! I considered myself past the age of having children but now that I have them I wouldn't go back.
 

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fat fanny

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Feb 9, 2006
Messages
1,935
Re: The price of children

I saw a movie w/ Nick Cage(Family Man) where he chose his career over staying w/ his girl and then had the chance to go back and see what his life would be like if he had stayed believe me @the end of that flick I considered all the ups and downs of parenthood and everytime I think of my life w/out my kids and wife I just can't stomach it. I can sya truthfully for the first time in my life that a movie changed me. There is a saying the grass isn't always greener on the other side now to me there is no other side especially when I hear my little girl yell faster dad when i'm pulling her on the tube behind the boat that phrase is priceless and when she gets back in the boat I always hug her. I also remember when I was 18 and telling myself I want to see the world well brother 3 kids later and @43 I have and it has been through all 3 of there eyes.
 

aspeck

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
May 29, 2003
Messages
19,472
Re: The price of children

With a 26 yo, one that will be 24 on the 16th, and a 7 yo, I think I made some good investments! As much as they frustrate me at times because they insist on learning the hard way, I wouldn't trade them for the world!
 

mphy98

Lieutenant
Joined
Oct 20, 2008
Messages
1,422
Re: The price of children

me 55, son 13, daughter 8. we got ours the old fashioned way, by adoption. wouldn't trade them for all the gold in the world. seems you have more patience when you get older and a lot more fun.
 

david_r

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Aug 11, 2008
Messages
1,118
Re: The price of children

that was a great post!!..im gonna have to show this to the wife..and my mom

i have 3.

my oldest is a girl she will be 18 may 1

my son is will be 17 july 26

my youngest will be 13 october 16

and i will be 35 june 18 :eek:

i didnt see the cell phones, car (for daughter), truck (for son), gas, and outrageous insurance added in there either :D i guess that fell off the list with college :eek:....and the 4-wheelers and dirt bikes....and pets



i do miss the mess we used to get to make doin the kid stuff...now we get in trouble when we make a mess playing :D


just where did this estimate come from, cause im poor..not middle class :D........i still wouldnt trade them for anything in the world!!!!
 

PW2

Commander
Joined
Apr 21, 2004
Messages
2,719
Re: The price of children

I've got 2 girls--one 32 and one 28.

Both University grads on their own, and doing great.

I was lucky to have one blind one, so I only had one I had to teach how to drive.
 

newbster

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
100
Re: The price of children

They didn't add in the cost of private school which seems nearly necessary in some areas. I still can't believe my wife talked me into 20k for our 5 year old. :eek:
 

alangf

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 12, 2009
Messages
105
Re: The price of children

The price of children​

This is just too good not to pass on to all. Here is something absolutely positive for a change. 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 nice.
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month,
* $171.08 a week.
* A mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is; don't have children if you want to be 'rich.' Actually, it is just the opposite.
What do you get for your $160,140.00?
* 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, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the
boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140.00, 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, and
* wish on stars.
You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay forMother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.
For a mere $24.24 a day, 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, and
* coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets
treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat in history to witness 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 & great-grandchildren!!!!!!! It's the best investment you'll ever make!!!!!!!!!
smile.gif
smile.gif
A beautiful example of the difference between price and value.
 

coolguy147

Commander
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
2,817
Re: The price of children

u get a crazy 14 year old like me. and a guy who loves outboards:D
 

idrownworms

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 7, 2008
Messages
224
Re: The price of children

No kids of my own but I have a niece and two nephews so I get to be the cool aunt:cool::D
You know like help them sneak chocolate and cookies, dig for earthworms, fish, teach them how to drive the boat,
It does come with responsibility though I have to do my best to save them from the mommy and daddy monsters, and while I know it's futile I try my best
jamie
 

itsaboattime

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 4, 2007
Messages
791
Re: The price of children

Why is it that we, as americans, break everything down into money??


I have four kids. 18, 17, 16, 14. The last two came with my wife. We are currently divorcing, but those two have been mine since they were 2 and five months.

my youngest, my lil girl, is the best fisher-girl a dad can have. She also played 4 years of Jr. tackle football, defensive end, and can take your knees out, laughing at you the whole time.

my 16 year old is the ladies man and an animal on the football field.

my 17 year old is a gearhead and an honors student

My 18 year old was just accepted to a university of the arts in California.

All four played sports, I coached or taught them all.

They are the only real thing I will leave behind when I leave this earth. There is no cost with your kids, only profit.
 

coolguy147

Commander
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
2,817
Re: The price of children

dont forget punishing them when ur mad and a way of letting ur anger out
 

mike243

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 3, 2009
Messages
123
Re: The price of children

i have 1 son & 2 grand kids,a 3 year old boy & a 2 year old girl,:D i dont know if i have forgotten the things he said or did but the grandbabies keep us laughing all the time,the granddaughters here asleep now,her big brothers is sick & is home so he can go to the doctor this morning :( ,he asked me to take him so i will probaly meet them there,he's pappaws best buddy,i almost get sick when i see what some folks do to our children,keep em in the woods or on the water,they will thank you 1 day ;) ,mike243
 
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