Baby at Splash Pad Water Park - Dad Blog

With my wife not working, we need to find as many things to do as free as possible.  We try to be frugal.  We want to give Rylan and our future children a lot of experiences, but this dad and mom have found we can do the experiences either free or very cheap with coupons.  Even when mom goes back to work, we will still do things free or cheap with coupons.  Melissa did this week’s free activity with Rylan while I was coaching soccer.

This week’s activity involved our baby going to the Splash Pad water park in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota.  It is free.  The Splash Pad is just a lot of waterspouts that kids run through, splash at other kids, and for some reason sit on.  I do not understand how that can be comfortable with water spaying up the butt.

Our son Rylan loves water and the Splash Pad.  He could probably play in a pool for hours or sit and play with a waterspout for each and every day for the rest of his life.  You can tell in the video that he loves splashing with the waterspout with his friend. I am just glad he hasn’t learned how to sit on the waterspout yet.  When that happens, I am sure I am going to feel the pain of it too by just looking at him.  At least he has a diaper to protect him.

If you are dad, there are a lot of things to do that are fun and free or fun and cheap.  My wife and I have mastered the free and cheap thing this summer like taking Rylan to the Splash Pad.  You can also do things such as take your kids to the beach, a park or even the pet store.  There are a lot of free things to do, all you have to do is look.

Real Dad Blog Version:  Sitting on a waterspout hurts, but it is well worth it if your kids are having fun and the water park is free.

Dad's Dream - Baby Scholarship

My wife went to a very strong academic university – Marquette.  People are proud to have gone there, just like many other people from other colleges.  Besides being known for their strong academics, Marquette University is also known for being very strong in men’s basketball and soccer.   If you think of Marquette, you probably think of basketball player Dwayne Wade and the comedian Chris Farley (rest in peace).  Yes, my wife was lucky enough to meet Dwyane Wade more than once.

As a dad, I would love to see my son go to a great University and would not mind seeing all or one of my kids to go to Marquette University.  The smelly thing (like a dirty diaper) about it is that by the time Rylan is old enough to go to college, it would probably cost $60,000 plus per year.  That price would crush most parents dreams of putting their kids through a private college if you save, save, save.

Most dads who played sports growing up would love for their kids to take after them and play sports they played; in other words, follow in their footsteps. The main sport that I excelled at was soccer.  Rylan will more than likely play soccer growing up and it is not because he will be pushed to play.  It will because he will be exposed to soccer at a young age. I coach soccer, so he will see me coaching it.  I will also play soccer with him at a very young age and as he ages. More than likely, he will play soccer.

He will also probably be playing basketball and baseball because those are more sports that he will be exposed to a lot with me as his dad.  We will shoot our hoops and play catch.  I am a dad that believes a child should be exposed to both academics and sports.  If they see their parents do the same, they will more than likely follow.  Melissa wanted to have Rylan be exposed to dance, but I had to put the squash on that idea.  Our compromise through mom and dad teamwork was Rylan to be exposed to gymnastics for 1 year as a toddler.

Baby Rylan with Dog in Background

Being exposed to sports is great, but, then there comes the thought of college.  I told the suffering misses that the only way Rylan will be going to Marquette is on a soccer scholarship or academic scholarship.  Why not both?  As you can see by the pictures we are working on the soccer part of it. Let’s get to work Rylan!

Real Dad Blog Version:  Say no to dance for boys. I do not want to be a dad who is made fun of.  Playing sports with your kids can lead to some great bonding experience with kids.  College is way too expensive!

New Dad Blog Suggestion:  Think of the song Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapin.  Play catch with your kids and be there for them.  As my beautiful wife would say, “you only have one life to live.”

Dad, I am going to be one expensive child!

A couple of days ago, I read the below article via a Yahoo News Feed.  It is going to cost $221,000 to raise just one child!  My mind exploded.  I was like “I will spend that much just on Rylan!  New Dads, you better watch out!”

I know diapers are expensive, but come on!  This article does need to go into more detail. I did the kind service for all the new dads out there and pulled out some numbers.  After the below article, I broke it down 7 possible expenses to get your mind thinking of where could all your hard earn money go to.

You may see the below story  here or at Yahoo! 

Middle-income family spends $221,000 to raise baby
By BETSY TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer Betsy Taylor, Associated Press Writer – Tue Aug 4, 4:50 pm ET

ST. LOUIS – It’s no secret that raising children can be expensive, but how about nearly a quarter of a million dollars expensive?

A government report released Tuesday says a middle-income family with a child born last year will spend about $221,000 raising that child through age 17.

The report by the USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion identified housing as the largest single expense, followed by food and child care/education costs. The $221,000 in expenses rises to about $292,000 when adjusted for inflation.

USDA economist Mark Lino, who co-authored the report with Andrea Carlson, often hears people say children cost a lot when the annual findings are issued.

“I tell them children also have many benefits, so you have to keep that in mind,” he said.

Families with more income spend more money on child-related costs, the report said. A two-parent family that earns less than $57,000 annually will spend about $160,000 on a child from birth through high school. Those with an income between $57,000 and $99,000 spend about $221,000 and those with higher incomes are expected to spend roughly $367,000 through age 17.

Most single-parent households in the U.S. make less than $57,000 and are expected to spend about 7 percent less on child-rearing costs compared to two-parent households in that same income group, according to the report.

Costs of raising a child are highest in the urban northeast and lowest in the urban south and rural areas.

The USDA report helps courts and states determine child-support guidelines and foster care payments. It does not address costs specifically related to childbearing and paying for college.

One of the largest changes over time has been the increase in costs related to care for young children.

The report was first issued in 1960, when such costs were largely negligible, but with more working families turning to outside help with child care, it has grown to be a significant expense for many families. The report does not give total costs related to early child care.

A mother of three, Raben Andrews of St. Louis, said the government figures sounded right to her. “Well, that’s not half of it,” joked the 42-year-old public school teacher. “I still have to put the little buggers through college.”

The Real Dad Blog breakdowns the cost of one child  (Hoping that this child is breastfed as a baby.  Formula fed babies are even more expensive.)

1. Diapers:  $40 per month for about 3 years.  $1440 in those three years
2. Clothing:  $500 per year (some people more some people less)  By the age of 17, $8500 on clothing.  I think that is on the cheap end!
3. Medical Insurance: about $200 a month (depending on the job), $2,400, $48,000 for 17 tears,
4. Food:  As a kid, about $40 a week or about $21,000 to the age of ten, teenage boys about $75 a week or $27,000 for the teenage years.  Those teenagers can eat!
5. Celebrations: (Birthday and Christmas) About $200 a year or 3400 for 17 years. That is on the cheap end.
6. Sports:  Depending on the sports about another $200 a year and more when they are older.  $3400 for their adolescent lifetime.
7. Miscellaneous money (like going out to eat, them going out with friends, dad taking the kid out for fun): $200 a month or $48,000 a year.
8. Daycare:  About $150 (more as an infant and less as they age) a week for 10 years or $78000 for the whole 10 years.

These are expenses that a parent should expect.  Some moms and dads do not need daycare.  That is a huge savings.  With all these estimated numbers added up, that is almost $240,000 being spent on just one child for their first 17 years.

I love numbers.   If you take that $240,000 and break that down to each year, that is $14,100 that is spend on your child each year.  If a person did not have that child and invested that money $14,100 each year and get about a 7% return on it, you would have a little more than $500,000.  This would then turn into $3.8 million after 30 years if you kept it in to grow.  You could be $3.8 million dollars richer!

With all these dollar signs flashing in front of you and all the cost making you go insane just remember, your child is priceless.  No matter what financial situation you are in, the best you can do is to teach your child financial responsibility and have the fortitude to pull through when times are tough.   Parents are the best role models a child can have.  They need to see responsible parents who can handle and communicate about financial matters.

For some great parental financial advice please go to Frugal Dad.  His blog has frugally sound advice.  His posts can help make the $240,000 be much less.  I have learned a thing or two about being frugal from life experience and Frugal Dad.  Who knows, he could help make it seem like you have $3.8 million.  Well, your child should make you feel richer than that!

Real Dad Blog Version:  Raising a child is crazy expensive.  It doesn’t matter how much it cost because raising a child is priceless.