[kscarrol]

It does get better. Just got back from TopGolf with my 21 and 23 year old sons. Had a great time drinking beer, talking smack and just hanging out.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Ok, since we're getting so srs here, my question is for ppl who are having some misgivings about child-raising: if you could magically snap your fingers and turn back time to when you were just a couple, would you? What do you think your spouse would choose? (Ofc, no one would know you made this decision either way and your kid(s) wouldn't 'die', they just never existed.)

Honestly hard to say... I've already invested 5 years at this point. It's not so much the total thing that I struggle with, as others have said, it should get better as they get older. It's the early years that are just plain brutal unless you really love kids. You get hit hard on 3 fronts - financially, emotionally and physically. Besides, my wife would still want kids... so snapping my fingers and going back to us being just a couple would just mean restarting the whole process... and I shudder at that thought

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by vbb

To offer some hope to wtwo3 though, it really does get better when the kids get a little older and are more self-sufficient and also much more interesting as they start to develop complex thought, senses of humor and other things that are more relatable. I think you're living through what a lot of us did when our children were young--you've been told all your life this was the best thing in the world and all you can see is the stress and the overwhelming change. It does get better, and I would presume your wife will mellow a little bit. Just try not to fall into the societal traps where you're chasing a bunch of things you and your kids don't even care about simply because you're afraid of falling behind on some sort of race to success.

Yeah light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. I appreciate yours and everyone else's reassurances that things do get better. Looking forward to enjoyable vacations again... freedom... and money in the bank.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

It does get better. Just got back from TopGolf with my 21 and 23 year old sons. Had a great time drinking beer, talking smack and just hanging out.

Yeah I did and do still enjoy when they snuggle up on the couch or need my help or still need me to carry them out of the car and into bed. That's hard to replace.

Then yeah, as you stated, fun shit, especially with boys. We watch Kong Vs Godzilla, we go Go Karting, we try to play golf and we hot the streets in our 911, top down, hooning it up like savages. I also enjoy my eldest's baseball, it's just house league but he likes it and I am helping coach so it's a great time.

Boys definitely help, not that girls can't do the above but eventually they will change whereas the boys are likely to kick on into their 20's.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Yeah I did and do still enjoy when they snuggle up on the couch or need my help or still need me to carry them out of the car and into bed. That's hard to replace.

Then yeah, as you stated, fun shit, especially with boys. We watch Kong Vs Godzilla, we go Go Karting, we try to play golf and we hot the streets in our 911, top down, hooning it up like savages. I also enjoy my eldest's baseball, it's just house league but he likes it and I am helping coach so it's a great time.

Boys definitely help, not that girls can't do the above but eventually they will change whereas the boys are likely to kick on into their 20's.

My wife accuses me of raising our daughter like a boy. I just tell her she's being sexist.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

My wife accuses me of raising our daughter like a boy. I just tell her she's being sexist.

Most dad's are gonna do that right, that's OK. Raise her like a boy. When she hits puberty she's likely gonna switch but you may as well enjoy the next 10 years.

[hubbahubba]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Ok, since we're getting so srs here, my question is for ppl who are having some misgivings about child-raising: if you could magically snap your fingers and turn back time to when you were just a couple, would you? What do you think your spouse would choose? (Ofc, no one would know you made this decision either way and your kid(s) wouldn't 'die', they just never existed.)

Kids is hard. Period. That said, if I didn't have kids when I did, (she was pregnant 6 months after marriage), I wouldn't still be married to my wife of 32 years. That would have ended poorly for me... I would have partied my life away and maybe be dead now.

[hubbahubba]

Originally Posted by vbb

Yeah, it took 22+ pages, but this thread really starting diving into some true unpopular opinions when it came to the children discussion. To think, people were talking about pineapple on pizza when this thread started, lol.

Not that there is anything wrong with that...

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

and money in the bank.

Yeah.... nah good luck with that. The childcare fees are a kick in the teeth but as they grow, they eat. Then sports, then clothes fucking KILL YOU, then they kill you on vacation.... remember..... i go home to OZ every 2 years.

By the way......................... https://e84.xbimmers.com/forums/show....php?t=1292200

[Esteban]

Enjoying hearing you guys talking about expenses with your children. I remember that. Mine are 40 and 35 now, so supporting them and paying for their things has been done with for almost 20 years. Still get the birthday and Xmas gifts and take them out to eat when they visit, or they take me out. But that’s pretty much it.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Yeah.... nah good luck with that. The childcare fees are a kick in the teeth but as they grow, they eat. Then sports, then clothes fucking KILL YOU, then they kill you on vacation.... remember..... i go home to OZ every 2 years.

By the way......................... https://e84.xbimmers.com/forums/show....php?t=1292200

Well I'm more referencing the $4,200/month that we currently spend on childcare alone (school and nanny). Sure some of that will be replaced with food/clothes/vacations... but surely not $4,200/month worth.....

[aliiin]

Haha I didn't read any of the thread before I posted. Glad I could spark some good discussion.

I am definitely okay with pets! I love dogs and wouldn't mind having one.

[wdb]

Talking about kids for 30+ posts is proof that it is not an unpopular opinion.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by wdb

Talking about kids for 30+ posts is proof that it is not an unpopular opinion.

To be fair, half of those posts are probably mine

[tranquility]

I have one but I still don't get the crazy fascination w convertibles.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by tranquility

I have one but I still don't get the crazy fascination w convertibles.

I see the attraction but never owned one myself.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by tranquility

I have one but I still don't get the crazy fascination w convertibles.

I sort of feel the same. I rented a convertible once when visiting Florida - you'd think that's the ideal location to have a convertible. The sun was so blazing hot it was extremely uncomfortable driving it with the top down.

And the whole thing with wind in the hair.... I guess if I have nowhere to go that's fine - but showing up somewhere looking like you've just ran from a tornado doesn't seem appealing.

IMO the only time a convertible is acceptable is when you have an insane sounding car - and even then I'd have to have the windows rolled up to prevent too much wind.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

I sort of feel the same. I rented a convertible once when visiting Florida - you'd think that's the ideal location to have a convertible. The sun was so blazing hot it was extremely uncomfortable driving it with the top down.

And the whole thing with wind in the hair.... I guess if I have nowhere to go that's fine - but showing up somewhere looking like you've just ran from a tornado doesn't seem appealing.

IMO the only time a convertible is acceptable is when you have an insane sounding car - and even then I'd have to have the windows rolled up to prevent too much wind.

Ya, we think similarly. I know MANY ppl are (to me) crazy since whenever there is blazing sun, they immediately have their tops down...I mean, did they miss the bulletin on skin cancer? Not really only that, it's just freaking uncomfortable, I don't get it.

To me, the ideal top-down scenario is slightly overcast so there's sun but not glaring, little to no wind (I hate getting my hair messed up too). I don't really get the 'open air'/openness feeling, I mainly do it to hear the exhaust more and that makes me more connected w the car, but that's about it. Oh, I'm a wee bit apprehensive about the added attn it brings w the top down so that's not a + for me either. Maybe some ppl are more clastraphobic than me, so having a convertible is a big draw to them, I dunno.

[tranquility]

Here's another one:

I love pets, had a few, but I think it's unnatural, poor things are separated from their parents, to live alone w a weird species usually w/o their own kind more often than not. It's kinda a lonely existence for them in that sense...but then again, what happens to all these domesticated animals if we decide that pets aren't a good idea anymore? I guess I'm conflicted.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Ya, we think similarly. I know MANY ppl are (to me) crazy since whenever there is blazing sun, they immediately have their tops down...I mean, did they miss the bulletin on skin cancer? Not really only that, it's just freaking uncomfortable, I don't get it.

To me, the ideal top-down scenario is slightly overcast so there's sun but not glaring, little to no wind (I hate getting my hair messed up too). I don't really get the 'open air'/openness feeling, I mainly do it to hear the exhaust more and that makes me more connected w the car, but that's about it. Oh, I'm a wee bit apprehensive about the added attn it brings w the top down so that's not a + for me either. Maybe some ppl are more clastraphobic than me, so having a convertible is a big draw to them, I dunno.

Yeah whenever I drove with the top down I felt exposed

[shobotan]

The whole sorry Harry & Meghan saga is not news.

This may well be popular opinion amongst my fellow 2ers, however news editors in my neck of the woods have it as a lead story occupying considerable time in news bulletins.
At least one network thinks it has the target audience worked out running "the Interview" straight after the local soap opera.

PS This is not Prince William.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

I sort of feel the same. I rented a convertible once when visiting Florida - you'd think that's the ideal location to have a convertible. The sun was so blazing hot it was extremely uncomfortable driving it with the top down.

And the whole thing with wind in the hair.... I guess if I have nowhere to go that's fine - but showing up somewhere looking like you've just ran from a tornado doesn't seem appealing.

IMO the only time a convertible is acceptable is when you have an insane sounding car - and even then I'd have to have the windows rolled up to prevent too much wind.

You groan loudly every time you stand you up, don't you?

I always wore a hat, but I typically kept the top up above 90 or so. Even though the NC Miata has a brilliant vent below and to the right of the steering wheel. If you're wearing shorts, it's aimed perfectly at the boys to prevent swampiness.

But sunny, cooler weather with heated seats is the PERFECT convertible weather.