The price of love

We knew that kids would be costly. Everyone says so.
We just didn't realize how costly they'd be.
And it wasn't the initial "set-up" costs either like crib, carseats, little clothes and highchair, playpen changetable etc, although those weren't exactly cheap - But it's remarkable that when you announce that you are about to become a parent for the first time - happy grandparents to be rush in and ease the financial burden, not to mention friends who pitch in to throw showers and make it rather simple at first to have a baby.
In fact, that first year as parents, we ended up thinking that those cost estimates were way off the mark. So we had another one. Most stuff can do double duty - baby seat, stroller, and highchair could all be passed down - even a crib, unless you have them close together like ours, but we just borrowed a 2nd crib and voila we were set.
We laughed at how rediculously inexpensive our children were. Diapers were our largest expense. They didn't eat much, and quite frankly they didn't really need all that much to be entertained; a wooden spoon, a pot with a lid and a flyswatter and they were quite happy.
Then came the real expenses.
Babies are not expensive - not really.
Toddlers are expensive. Really really expensive.
And it's not just the shoes they outgrow in 3 months or the clothes or even the new beds and bedroom furniture.
This is why they are expensive:
Because you will have to buy everything you own and love all over again.
Expect to have to buy new dishes - they will break them
Expect to buy new cutlery - They will lose all your spoons in the grass digging in the backyard
Books - covers ripped, pages destroyed - not by being read, but by being tossed down the stairs
DVD's - they aren't indestructable after all. In fact, we've had to purchase a couple over again after the kids have cracked them.
Computers, nuh-uh - Believe me when I say they can destroy a USB port requiring you to buy a new 90$ keyboard, and then only 2 weeks later they will destroy your DVD drive by sticking breadsticks in there rendering it useless.
VCR's are a write-off - We've gone through 3 of them now, and just buy DVD's (over and over)
Home renovations - expect to paint - a lot. paint over the stains that even Mr. Cleans magic eraser couldn't get rid of.
New carpet - we're actually holding off until Joey is finished with the "It's fun to put stuff on the carpet" phase - maybe in another 10 years...
Furniture - we bought leather because it wipes off better than cloth - but leather can be stained too - with an orange highlighter apparently. They've managed to break a few lamps and my computer desk as well as the doors on our entertainment unit. Also a certain brand new dresser set now has a drawer that will not fit in properly - the end result of tipping the thing over, not once, but 3 seperate times.
Food - They will ask for it - but they don't eat it - they will wear it, spread it on the carpet, and throw it down the air vents. Toddlers can survive for a week on 3 goldfish crackers and a McNugget - don't let them fool you into thinking they will actually eat that toast with peanut butter you made for them - it is much more fun to watch it fall peanut butter side down onto the floor.
Toys - New toys last approximately 8.3 seconds before they are irrepairably broken. If they aren't broken, you will go broke buying batteries for them, because kids don't realize they are equipped with "off" buttons. Best to not buy them any toys in the first two years - trust me the toys will take over the house.
Miscellaneous expenses like replacing the bathroom sink they cracked by throwing a plaster letter D that used to hang on the bedroom door into the sink, and a wall repair that was necessitated by a 2yr old and a 3 yr old pushing daddy's buttons to the point where he punched the wall in frustration. (maybe not their fault - but still the cause).
What they don't break they lose. - not the whole thing, but maybe just a crucial piece of something that renders it useless. Things like the remote control, the lid to a can of paint, the key to my bike lock, or the knob to the washing machine.
So to sum up - yes the cost of having a toddler is absolutely incredibly expensive. In fact those cost estimates may be on the low side. After toddlerhood comes childhood - I expect we'll probably be shelling out for the occasional broken window, or broken leg, But the rewards are priceless. As expensive as they are, they make our lives interesting. To me they are absolutely worth it.