<description>This one has a twist ending!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In this episode of the Regretful Parents series, Erika and Kristen react to a Reddit post titled “I genuinely hate my baby.” What starts as a familiar story about parenting regret, sleep deprivation, and postpartum mental health quickly turns into total chaos when the hosts realize the post wasn’t written by a mother — but by a first-time father (FTF).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This episode dives deep into the realities of new parent burnout, baby sleep training, cry it out (CIO) methods, and the crushing isolation that comes with being an expat parent with no support system. The Reddit post describes a 33-year-old parent with a 4.5-month-old baby who hasn’t slept more than two hours at a time, leading to severe mental health struggles, weight loss, emotional breakdowns at work, and intense regret over becoming a parent.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Along the way, Erika and Kristen unpack:&lt;br /&gt;The emotional toll of sleep deprivation and newborn parenting&lt;br /&gt;Whether sleep training actually works or causes harm&lt;br /&gt;Why parenting forums are obsessed with acronyms (FTF, CIO, PLS, TCB… seriously, why?)&lt;br /&gt;The differences in how mothers vs fathers are treated when they struggle mentally&lt;br /&gt;How parental regret is discussed (or ignored) online&lt;br /&gt;Why so many overwhelmed parents turn to churches, daycare, or community support just to survive&lt;br /&gt;And how being child-free offers a radically different perspective on parenting culture&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This episode blends dark humor, brutal honesty, and social commentary while exploring topics like postpartum depression (PPD), parenting expectations, gender roles, and the myth that having children automatically brings fulfillment.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you’re interested in:&lt;br /&gt;regretful parents&lt;br /&gt;new parent mental health&lt;br /&gt;baby sleep training&lt;br /&gt;parenting regret stories&lt;br /&gt;child-free commentary&lt;br /&gt;Reddit parenting stories&lt;br /&gt;first time father struggles&lt;br /&gt;postpartum depression discussions&lt;br /&gt;…this episode is for you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations about regret and choosing a childfree life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Join our childfree community: patreon.com/dinkypod&lt;br /&gt;Take a trip with us: https://trovatrip.com/host/profiles/dinky-wxarg &lt;br /&gt;Learn more about our podcast: dinkypod.com &lt;br /&gt;Love ya. Don’t get pregnant.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Become a supporter of this podcast: &lt;a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=rss"&gt;https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support&lt;/a&gt;.</description>

This one has a twist ending!

In this episode of the Regretful Parents series, Erika and Kristen react to a Reddit post titled “I genuinely hate my baby.” What starts as a familiar story about parenting regret, sleep deprivation, and postpartum mental...

This one has a twist ending! In this episode of the Regretful Parents series, Erika and Kristen react to a Reddit post titled “I genuinely hate my baby.” What starts as a familiar story about parenting regret, sleep deprivation, and postpartum mental health quickly turns into total chaos when the hosts realize the post wasn’t written by a mother — but by a first-time father (FTF). This episode dives deep into the realities of new parent burnout, baby sleep training, cry it out (CIO) methods, and the crushing isolation that comes with being an expat parent with no support system. The Reddit post describes a 33-year-old parent with a 4.5-month-old baby who hasn’t slept more than two hours at a time, leading to severe mental health struggles, weight loss, emotional breakdowns at work, and intense regret over becoming a parent. Along the way, Erika and Kristen unpack: The emotional toll of sleep deprivation and newborn parenting Whether sleep training actually works or causes harm Why parenting forums are obsessed with acronyms (FTF, CIO, PLS, TCB… seriously, why?) The differences in how mothers vs fathers are treated when they struggle mentally How parental regret is discussed (or ignored) online Why so many overwhelmed parents turn to churches, daycare, or community support just to survive And how being child-free offers a radically different perspective on parenting culture This episode blends dark humor, brutal honesty, and social commentary while exploring topics like postpartum depression (PPD), parenting expectations, gender roles, and the myth that having children automatically brings fulfillment. If you’re interested in: regretful parents new parent mental health baby sleep training parenting regret stories child-free commentary Reddit parenting stories first time father struggles postpartum depression discussions …this episode is for you. 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations about regret and choosing a childfree life. Join our childfree community: patreon.com/dinkypod Take a trip with us: https://trovatrip.com/host/profiles/dinky-wxarg  Learn more about our podcast: dinkypod.com  Love ya. Don’t get pregnant. Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support</a>.

Regretful Parents: “I've Always Loved Kids — I Just Hate My Own” | Reddit Stories

<description>In this episode, Erika and Kristen read and discuss a post from the Regretful Parents sub titled “Don’t Do It Folks.” The post details a chaotic day of parenting young children and offers practical advice for people who are considering having kids.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Our conversation covers the realities of daily childcare, loss of free time, unequal caregiving labor, financial strain, and how resentment can build. We break down the post’s advice for fence sitters, including the importance of firsthand childcare experience, realistic expectations, financial support, and reliable help from partners or family.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The episode also explores broader themes around decision-making, comparing parenthood to other long-term commitments people often underestimate. Listener comments from the subreddit add perspective on money stress, partner dynamics, and unmet expectations after having children.&lt;br /&gt;This episode is for fence sitters, childfree listeners, and parents looking for honest discussions about parenting, regret, and life choices.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Topics discussed:&lt;br /&gt;Regretful Parents subreddit stories&lt;br /&gt;Parenting stress and burnout&lt;br /&gt;Fence sitting and deciding whether to have kids&lt;br /&gt;Childcare labor and resentment&lt;br /&gt;Financial pressure and parenting&lt;br /&gt;Childfree perspectives&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Keywords: regretful parents, parenting regret, fence sitter, childfree, deciding whether to have kids, parenting burnout, regretful parents subreddit, childfree podcast, parenting realities, DINK lifestyle&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Join our childfree community: patreon.com/dinkypod&lt;br /&gt;Take a trip with us: https://trovatrip.com/host/profiles/dinky-wxarg &lt;br /&gt;Learn more about our podcast: dinkypod.com &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Love ya. Don’t get pregnant.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Become a supporter of this podcast: &lt;a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=rss"&gt;https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support&lt;/a&gt;.</description>

In this episode, Erika and Kristen read and discuss a post from the Regretful Parents sub titled “Don’t Do It Folks.” The post details a chaotic day of parenting young children and offers practical advice for people who are considering having kids....

In this episode, Erika and Kristen read and discuss a post from the Regretful Parents sub titled “Don’t Do It Folks.” The post details a chaotic day of parenting young children and offers practical advice for people who are considering having kids. Our conversation covers the realities of daily childcare, loss of free time, unequal caregiving labor, financial strain, and how resentment can build. We break down the post’s advice for fence sitters, including the importance of firsthand childcare experience, realistic expectations, financial support, and reliable help from partners or family. The episode also explores broader themes around decision-making, comparing parenthood to other long-term commitments people often underestimate. Listener comments from the subreddit add perspective on money stress, partner dynamics, and unmet expectations after having children. This episode is for fence sitters, childfree listeners, and parents looking for honest discussions about parenting, regret, and life choices. Topics discussed: Regretful Parents subreddit stories Parenting stress and burnout Fence sitting and deciding whether to have kids Childcare labor and resentment Financial pressure and parenting Childfree perspectives Keywords: regretful parents, parenting regret, fence sitter, childfree, deciding whether to have kids, parenting burnout, regretful parents subreddit, childfree podcast, parenting realities, DINK lifestyle Join our childfree community: patreon.com/dinkypod Take a trip with us: https://trovatrip.com/host/profiles/dinky-wxarg  Learn more about our podcast: dinkypod.com  Love ya. Don’t get pregnant. Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support</a>.

Regretful Parents: “Don't Do It, Unless...” | Reddit Stories

<description>Want more exclusive content from Dinky? Join the &lt;a href="https://patreon.com/dinkypod?utm_medium=unknown&amp;amp;utm_source=join_link&amp;amp;utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&amp;amp;utm_content=copyLink" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"&gt;Patreon&lt;/a&gt;! &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Today we are joined by TJ Bozarth, the creator, writer, and director of &lt;a href="https://www.dinkthemusical.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"&gt;DINK: The Musical&lt;/a&gt; — a dramedy satire on the state of our world sung through the eyes of three DINK couples. We talk with TJ about the inspiration behind the musical, why satire feels important right now, and how this project has been received around the world.&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;TRIPS:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="https://trovatrip.com/trip/asia/vietnam/vietnam-with-erika-abdelatif-apr-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"&gt;Artsy Adventure In Vietnam With Erika&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/france/france-with-erika-abdelatif-jun-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"&gt;Lavender Dreams &amp;amp; Riviera Nights With Erika&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to sign up for a&lt;a href="https://youneedabudget.a4xxmk.net/RGKmWX" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"&gt; FREE 34 day trial of YNAB (You Need A Budget)&lt;/a&gt; and support the show. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on &lt;a href="https://substack.com/@dinkypod" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"&gt;Substack&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/dinkypod/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"&gt;Instagram&lt;/a&gt;,&lt;a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dinkypod" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"&gt; TikTok&lt;/a&gt;,&lt;a href="https://www.threads.net/@dinkypod" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"&gt; and Threads&lt;/a&gt; at @dinkypod. Follow us on&lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/@dinkypodcast" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"&gt; YouTube.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="https://dinkypod.myspreadshop.com/all" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"&gt;Merch is here&lt;/a&gt;!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.com&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Become a supporter of this podcast: &lt;a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=rss"&gt;https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support&lt;/a&gt;.</description>

Want more exclusive content from Dinky? Join the https://patreon.com/dinkypod?utm_medium=unknown&amp;utm_source=join_link&amp;utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&amp;utm_content=copyLink! 

Today we are joined by TJ Bozarth, the creator, writer, and...

Want more exclusive content from Dinky? Join the <a href="https://patreon.com/dinkypod?utm_medium=unknown&amp;utm_source=join_link&amp;utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&amp;utm_content=copyLink" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patreon</a>!  Today we are joined by TJ Bozarth, the creator, writer, and director of <a href="https://www.dinkthemusical.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DINK: The Musical</a> — a dramedy satire on the state of our world sung through the eyes of three DINK couples. We talk with TJ about the inspiration behind the musical, why satire feels important right now, and how this project has been received around the world. TRIPS: <a href="https://trovatrip.com/trip/asia/vietnam/vietnam-with-erika-abdelatif-apr-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Artsy Adventure In Vietnam With Erika</a> <a href="https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/france/france-with-erika-abdelatif-jun-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lavender Dreams &amp; Riviera Nights With Erika</a> Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to sign up for a<a href="https://youneedabudget.a4xxmk.net/RGKmWX" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> FREE 34 day trial of YNAB (You Need A Budget)</a> and support the show. Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on <a href="https://substack.com/@dinkypod" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Substack</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dinkypod/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>,<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dinkypod" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> TikTok</a>,<a href="https://www.threads.net/@dinkypod" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> and Threads</a> at @dinkypod. Follow us on<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@dinkypodcast" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> YouTube.</a> <a href="https://dinkypod.myspreadshop.com/all" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Merch is here</a>!!! If you have a question or comment, email us at dinky@dinkypod.com Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support</a>.

TJ Bozarth On Creating A Musical About DINK Life + Reproductive Rights

<description>&lt;b&gt;Trigger Warning: This episode discusses self-harm, mental health crises, sexual content, and parental regret.A parent of a 17-year-old daughter with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts describes years of burnout, crisis management, and reaching a breaking point. From phone restrictions to parental PTSD, this story raises uncomfortable questions about autonomy, responsibility, mental health, and what happens when caregiving becomes all-consuming.💬 Topics include:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Regretful parenting and caregiver burnout&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Neurodivergence and adolescence&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Sexuality, boundaries, and harm reduction&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Therapy fatigue and parental PTSD&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why having kids isn’t the “default” choice we’re told it is&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;b&gt;More Regretful Parents episodes available on YouTube and wherever you get podcasts.Join our childfree community: patreon.com/dinkypodLove ya. Don’t get pregnant.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Become a supporter of this podcast: &lt;a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=rss"&gt;https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support&lt;/a&gt;.</description>

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses self-harm, mental health crises, sexual content, and parental regret.A parent of a 17-year-old daughter with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts describes years of burnout, crisis management, and...

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses self-harm, mental health crises, sexual content, and parental regret.A parent of a 17-year-old daughter with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts describes years of burnout, crisis management, and reaching a breaking point. From phone restrictions to parental PTSD, this story raises uncomfortable questions about autonomy, responsibility, mental health, and what happens when caregiving becomes all-consuming.💬 Topics include:<ul><li>Regretful parenting and caregiver burnout</li><li>Neurodivergence and adolescence</li><li>Sexuality, boundaries, and harm reduction</li><li>Therapy fatigue and parental PTSD</li><li>Why having kids isn’t the “default” choice we’re told it is</li></ul>More Regretful Parents episodes available on YouTube and wherever you get podcasts.Join our childfree community: patreon.com/dinkypodLove ya. Don’t get pregnant. Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support</a>.

Regretful Parents: “I Got Everything I Didn't Want In A Child” | Reddit Stories

<description>Welcome back to the Regretful Parents series. This episode tackles what motherhood does to women’s bodies, mental health, and sense of self.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Erika and Kristen read a post from the Regretful Parents subreddit titled “Never Felt as Ugly as I Do Now as a Mom.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A woman reflects on how pregnancy, postpartum life, chronic sleep deprivation, stress, and mental load have aged her physically and emotionally — and how devastating it feels to no longer recognize herself in the mirror. From "saggy apron bellies to lifeless eyes", celebrity “bounce-back” culture, Botox discourse, and why men somehow escape all of this entirely, the conversation spirals (as it should) into a full-blown rant about how cruel, unfair, and deeply misogynistic the expectations placed on mothers really are.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Topics include:&lt;br /&gt;Postpartum body changes no one warns you about&lt;br /&gt;Why stress and sleep deprivation visibly age womenThe lie of “bouncing back” after pregnancy&lt;br /&gt;Celebrity beauty standards are fully rage-inducing&lt;br /&gt;Why motherhood drains women and barely touches men&lt;br /&gt;And the eternal question: why do we keep doing this to ourselves?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Support us on patreon.com/dinkypod so we can kill ads forever&lt;br /&gt;Find childfree friends, connect with other fence-sitters, and join our next trip at&lt;a href="https://dinkypod.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"&gt; dinkypod.com&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;And as always: don’t get pregnant.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Become a supporter of this podcast: &lt;a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=rss"&gt;https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support&lt;/a&gt;.</description>

Welcome back to the Regretful Parents series. This episode tackles what motherhood does to women’s bodies, mental health, and sense of self.

Erika and Kristen read a post from the Regretful Parents subreddit titled “Never Felt as Ugly as I Do Now as...

Welcome back to the Regretful Parents series. This episode tackles what motherhood does to women’s bodies, mental health, and sense of self. Erika and Kristen read a post from the Regretful Parents subreddit titled “Never Felt as Ugly as I Do Now as a Mom.” A woman reflects on how pregnancy, postpartum life, chronic sleep deprivation, stress, and mental load have aged her physically and emotionally — and how devastating it feels to no longer recognize herself in the mirror. From "saggy apron bellies to lifeless eyes", celebrity “bounce-back” culture, Botox discourse, and why men somehow escape all of this entirely, the conversation spirals (as it should) into a full-blown rant about how cruel, unfair, and deeply misogynistic the expectations placed on mothers really are. Topics include: Postpartum body changes no one warns you about Why stress and sleep deprivation visibly age womenThe lie of “bouncing back” after pregnancy Celebrity beauty standards are fully rage-inducing Why motherhood drains women and barely touches men And the eternal question: why do we keep doing this to ourselves? Support us on patreon.com/dinkypod so we can kill ads forever Find childfree friends, connect with other fence-sitters, and join our next trip at<a href="https://dinkypod.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> dinkypod.com</a>. And as always: don’t get pregnant. Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support</a>.

Regretful Parents: “Never Felt As Ugly As I Do Now” | Reddit Stories

two childfree pals who just won’t stfu about the DINK (dual income, no kids) lifestyle ✨ the #1 followed childfree &amp; DINK podcast✨ subscribe to our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and more: https://www.patreon.com/dinkypod/membership Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support</a>.

two childfree pals who just won’t stfu about the DINK (dual income, no kids) lifestyle ✨ Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dinky-podcast/support

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