As an only child....
... my experience of kids was limited to watching them throw a tantrum in Tesco or generally looking down my nose at them.

So finding out I was gonna be a Dad the day before I started a new job, having just bought our first house AND relocated halfway across the country was a little concerning.

In fact you could say I was less than pleased. A few days to cool off and I came round to the idea.

It was my daughters 2nd birthday last week and I think she's the greatest thing in my life.

Couple of days ago I was just starting to stir in the morning light on a work day when in walks my little lady, straight round to my side of the bed and kisses me on the nose and whispers "Wakey Daddy!".

Brilliant.


It's been a really positive experience which I could only foresee negative aspects of. So if you find yourself one of the unexpected expecting, I can promise you it's not as bad as you think!

(I have ignored being pee'd on, puked on, poo'd on, shouted at, woken during the night, having no money, dirty carpets, clutter all round the house and the lack of freedom to just go out on a whim after 6pm.)
(golddust QOTW now revolves around being a cunt, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 15:46, 5 replies)

Nursery
and the £400 a month (half price) to send them to nursery just to work.

Worth it tho, i love it when my son gives me a big hug and kisses me
(The Ginger Penguin la la la la la la, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 15:49, closed)

£400? Bargain!
Ours is £34 per day = £680 per month (assuming only 4 weeks).

Plus then if we decide to keep her home we still pay.
If they decide to send her home (i.e. They decide she has chicken pox, she didn't and would have caught it there anyway) we still pay.
Best of all, if we decide to take her out of nursery for a bit over summer (my wife is training as a teacher, so summers off) then we still pay them 50% of the normal rate for the privelidge of NOT sending her to nursery but leaving her name on the books for the future!

But hey, at least we get £9 per week child benefit. That pays for just under 2 hours of childcare.
(golddust QOTW now revolves around being a cunt, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 15:58, closed)

Thank you for posting this
Nice to read a positive, warm 'n' fuzzy post.
*CLICK*
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 16:31, closed)

@golddust
in the uk you can get vouchers from your employer which gives you back the tax ... making 650 a month come down to around 500 ;)
( Far Out Slave last ate at, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 16:56, closed)

^^ Far Out Slave
You're right you can.

However the scheme is voluntary for employers (despite there being a saving to them).

I have asked, in fact I've near begged, my employer to adopt the scheme pointing out it will save us BOTH money.

"They discussed it at the management meeting". Evidently the people who don't need to worry about money decided they didn't to worry about this scheme either.

I can see their point it would take admin time to setup... but with the current fuel prices, car tax, car insurance, nursery costs etc etc I wonder if I'm better off staying at home and taking benefits!?
(golddust QOTW now revolves around being a cunt, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 17:44, closed)