gsteinb

My son's 16, and he's really a delight. Which isn't the same as perfect, or something akin to never frustrating. Still, he's my best friend and my love for him is unconditional. I've never been frustrated by having to do for him and go without something for myself.

MDcatV

he takes good photos too!

carpediemracing 

I always thought of myself as the one to be the single uncle to a half dozen nephews and nieces. Somehow that's turned around. I'm sitting in my dad's house, Junior is sleeping behind me (fell asleep on my lap a short time ago).

Now that I'm here it's unimaginable not to be here. Likewise I think of the decade or so where I just raced, and I can't imagine doing that again.

I don't know if you mentioned it before but congrats.

There's a great book called "The Expectant Father". I thought it a good read. I had a hard time assimilating the pregnancy, it didn't seem real until about 5 months in. Apparently this is sort of common. This was one of the things that surprised me when I read it.

Also there's a book "What to Expect The First Year" and it's also pretty good. We understood that it wasn't a "your kid has to do this on this schedule" but it's a great guide on what basically happens development-wise. For example one of the first development things I noticed was when Junior would help put his arm through his sleeves. I didn't realize this was a "developmental stage" thing until I read that bit in the book. After that I paid a bit more attention to the book and what Junior was doing.

The Missus's sister had a baby recently. They're not particularly close and the sister really doesn't touch base with anyone in the family in any sort of regular manner. We assumed she knew of a bunch of stuff but the reality was totally different. For example at 6 months her baby couldn't sit up. Ends up that the sister/mom didn't know about "tummy time" (spending time on the stomach develops core strength for those that don't have babies - it's almost like working out for them), and her social circles had no idea about any of this stuff. That's something that we took for granted, some of the basic things. The Missus got her sister up to speed, gave our books to her, etc. The sister was really upset that she wasn't aware of this stuff.

furiousferret

I've always had and always will have a great admiration of people that raise their children properly. I don't care how much money you have or how good your family support base is, it is still a very easy thing to screw up.

@Grammercy good luck with your next 18 years, I hope they're great!

jmikami

I agree kids are the most rewarding thing in my life right now, and I love spending time with them. However they have changed my world and my time constraints 100% because of that. Doesn't matter if that is good or bad for some, so more work/less time is something you have to consider before having kids. Not the right call for everyone as I at times look on with a tinge of jealously at my kid-less friends going off on random vacations and spur of the moment trips.

It is all give and take. I like my current lot, but that doesn't mean it is perfect either. And while I wouldn't change it, I see no reason to not at times feel some burden as well.

gsteinb

I tell my kid all to time to remember it when I'm old, senile, and need my ass wiped and his wife wants to stick me in a home.

waterrockets 

Yeah, kids are great, in my life. The stories each of us could tell...

MDcatV

when did this turn into the Oprah thread? i'm making fun of myself as I'm guilty for contributing to RTT going in this direction today :-)

rbart4506

Speaking of kids, mine just bought his first new car! Don't think he'll be moving out anytime soon lol

Oh to be 26, live at home and have a half decent paying job

shovelhd

You're doing it wrong

I have certainly had my share of challenges with my children. So many, many issues to deal with. It's all worth it though. They're great people that I would be proud to know as friends.

College wasnt easy easy for me at a coop engineering school where I interned as well as work study and a third outside job working at the car wash on weekends. You know what was harder? Graduating in a recession with rent and bills to pay and sweating it out trying to find a job. It all worked out.

waterrockets 

Lots of articles on twenty-thirty-somethings living in multi-generational homes these days. I think being born from the 50s through the 70s in the US is pretty much like hitting the economic jackpot.

rbart4506

You could say that

He left when he was 22 and moved back in at 25, 3 months before the wife moved out. He really stepped up at that point and really he can stay as long as he wants. Things would have been a lot more difficult for me if he hadn't been around, emotionally and financially. For his sake I hope as long as he wants turns into 2 years...

Creatre

I'm 24 and haven't had too much trouble with jobs. I was stuck at home for about 2 months after school, then I was off (after about 400 applications sent out across the whole US). Was about the right amount of time of parents being glad to have me around and getting iffy on me staying too long. That was a few years ago now and I'm at my second "real" job now.

Oddly enough, almost all of my friends from high school and college seem to be off on their own and fairly successful. I don't actually know anyone off the top of my head that's still living at home.

TMonk

I graduated in 2010 and am doing fine... Been at the same position (Research Associate) and same company for about 3 years now after doing a couple temp/contract science jobs.

My issue is finding the motivation to get another job and/or go back to grad school, because I'm comfortable. Growth/Upward mobility at this small company is very limited, and I'm under payed compared to what I would make doing the same thing at a large company. After my rent (1 bedroom apartment), student loans and other bills I don't have a whole lot of money to spend/save/invest, and I'm ready to step up to the next level of income and acquire more expenses.

I need like a life coach or someone to give me a pep talk. I work hard and am a valuable asset at work, taking higher levels of responsibilities on my team. but staying here for more than another year or so would definitely be complacent.

Creatre

This is also random. But like 3/4 or so of the girls from my graduating class are nurses now. That's not an exaggeration, if I counted it out it may even be over 3/4. I only had a graduating class of 70 though. But find it odd like every single one is a nurse. No male nurses to anyone wondering, lol.

TMonk

RNs at the right place can make a decent bit of coin.

MDcatV

are you complacent or happy? our culture confuses higher salaries and upward career mobility with happiness sometimes.

Wylde06

Lucky. Im not exagerating when I say I've applied for thousands of jobs over the last 3.5 years. 26 and cant afford to move out of my parents house. I couldn't have timed getting my undergrad and graduate degree in Finance (with no relevant experience) any worse.

grolby

Man, I hear you. Though I graduated in 2009 and went right to grad school, it's a similar situation for me, albeit still working in academia for now. I'm coming up on a year at my current position, it's a great job with great people but it is hard to be patient - like you, I feel that I am fairly underpaid for my education and skills relative to what I might make in industry, or even in a more advanced academic position. But a year ago, I was struggling to find a job at all, and the reasons for that don't disappear in a single year. So, logically, I'm not quite the asset I imagine myself to be in the eyes of potential employers. I probably can at some point graduate to a position with 50% or perhaps even greater pay, but building skills and a CV takes time. It's tough, though, when what you're making is more-or-less just enough. I've been making just enough or not quite enough for quite a few years now, and it wears you down.

ridethecliche

Crap, the year really has flown by. I feel like I hung out with you at the Mayor's cup just a few weeks ago but it's been a year!

furiousferret

The biggest thing that has helped me has been my military clearance. There isn't a shortage of IT professionals, but there is a shortage of trustworthy employees. When I worked in Law Enforcement we eliminated 90% of all applicants through background checks. When employers see you had a NATO clearance they know you are at least passable for the background and that's huge.

grolby

10 months, but yeah.

Ygduf

re-did my garage last weekend. built the long wooden shelves, re-shuffled everything. when I get home it smells like cut wood and chain lube that I spilled. it's great.

shovelhd

There isn't a shortage of IT professionals?? IT unemployment is under 1% around here. I get offers every day. There is so much turnover in the contract workforce at my current client that they make a concerted effort to keep you busy on interesting projects and treat you like an employee.

furiousferret

At the lower level there isn't. People that can do basic support, project management (which I contend isn't IT), and simple coding. There is a shortage of good coders and infrastructure engineers. We typically have around 50 to 100 applications for every opening.

I've been here for 14 years, so my pulse on IT unemployment is what I see from applicants.

There is a real possibility I'll have to pack my bags and move to Sydney, my wife keeps getting that carrot of a promotion in front of her, and the money would be too good to pass on.