Was just at a self check out in a busy Charing Cross station. Next to me a Dad with three young kids (between 5 and 9 I’d wager).
All I could hear was “no, no, don’t scan that again, we’ve already scanned that” I looked over and there was a massive basket of sandwiches/crisps/drinks to be scanned and I quietly wished him good luck.
Those self scanners are like catnip to kids. The devil’s technology! Each time there is an extra scan they will need to call an attendant over and the pressure will build and build. If they are aiming for a train I hope they make it!
I discovered recently that there is a subreddit called Dad For A Minute where people who don’t have a father in their life can reach out for fatherly advice, support or praise. I find it really wholesome that this exists.
i think the notion that you have to reproduce to be qualified is misguided. there’s a lot of people around who provide great parenting without being “biologically qualified”
our kids need good parents be they mother, fathers or otherwise by birth or otherwise.
parenting requires skills that we’re not born with, and we don’t get them by magic when our kids are born. most people’s “problems” with their kids are rooted in over-reliance on personality and are often resolved by learning new skills, inter-dependency and the support of others, whether they have kids of their own is irrelevant.
if only we had an education system that recognised these skill shortages and prepare us even a little…
Not sure I agree entirely. And to be clear I wasn’t talking specifically about ‘biological qualification’ I don’t recall mentioning that? the child could be adopted fostered or otherwise.
I think you learn to parent children through experience in part as you grow with them and I’m sorry to say that I’m going to usually prefer the opinion of someone who has had children ( biologically or not) than someone who hasn’t.
I don’t believe there is a substitute for experience no matter how many books someone has read - I speak from experience growing up and dealing with step parents
The two most important lessons about life, for me anyway, are; time is everything in life and should be treated as such - use it wisely, spend it with people that matter and add love to your life. Don’t give it away cheaply in a job you hate. Always save some to do something you love that has no other intention beyond itself.
And, every single person is winging it in life. The people you wish you were like that seem to just take everything in their stride… are also winging it.
£50 or £60 a day on food drink seems very reasonable. Especially if they’re not eating out in fancy restaurants in Paris and Zurich every night. So £1200-1400 probably about right. Where’s your kid planning on going though?
Most of the big ones, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, Vienna. There’s a few days in Rimini at the end, and some side quests (some girls want to visit Croatia, some are heading to Budapest, some Salzberg)
Thanks Sal, good to get your input. I’ll add a bit extra for weekends I think.
£2k felt a bit extra, but wanted to check I wasn’t being too tight!
We briefly attempted controlled crying with our oldest. She screamed the house down and was so incensed she threw herself against the cot and walloped her head. The next time we tried it she was so pissed off she threw up.
In 1990ish I did the US via Greyhound with a mate, we budgeted $15 a day I think, all in (apart from the bus ticket which was Interrail equivalent). Not much more than a day anywhere. Nuts really.
