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.

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Love ya. Don’t get pregnant.

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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.

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Today we are joined by TJ Bozarth, the creator, writer, and director of DINK: The Musical — 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:
Artsy Adventure In Vietnam With Erika
Lavender Dreams & Riviera Nights With Erika

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Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads at @dinkypod. Follow us on YouTube.

Merch is here!!!

If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected]

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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:

• Regretful parenting and caregiver burnout
• Neurodivergence and adolescence
• Sexuality, boundaries, and harm reduction
• Therapy fatigue and parental PTSD
• Why having kids isn’t the “default” choice we’re told it is

More Regretful Parents episodes available on YouTube and wherever you get podcasts.Join our childfree community: patreon.com/dinkypodLove ya. Don’t get pregnant.

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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 dinkypod.com.
And as always: don’t get pregnant.

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In this episode, Kristen and Erika dive into a wild Reddit post from a working mom dealing with a stay-at-home husband who refuses to actually parent their 28-month-old (that's 2 years and 4 months, people!).

What We Cover:
A stay-at-home dad who won't take his toddler to the playground, feed her, or play with her
Why OP hired a house cleaner because he couldn't handle the basics
The depression and isolation that can come with being a full-time parent
Why men often aren't equipped to handle what women do every day
The importance of community and adult friendships for stay-at-home parents
Our thoughts on why this relationship is doomed

GET MORE:
Instagram & TikTok: @dinkypod
Join our community: Find childfree friends, connect with other fence-sitters, and join our next trip at dinkypod.com.

Key Moments:
The math rant about calling kids "28 months old" instead of just saying their age in years
Discussion about whether this dad was always terrible or if parenthood changed him
Why the wife can't leave even though she "could care less about him anymore"
The hypocrisy of stay-at-home dads vs stay-at-home moms and societal expectations
This episode tackles the reality of regretful parenting, gender dynamics in childcare, stay-at-home parent depression, and why some people should never have kids.

 

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What happens when the love you’re promised as a parent never shows up?
In this episode, Erika and Kristen dive into one of the most taboo and honest conversations about parenthood: regret, ambivalence, and not loving your child the way society says you should. Reading directly from the Regretful Parents subreddit, we unpack a post from a mother who admits she doesn’t love her baby and can't figure out why. 

From postpartum expectations and hormonal myths to comparisons between loving pets vs. children, this episode explores:
Why some parents don’t feel instant love after birth
The difference between love as a feeling vs. love as an action
Postpartum depression, trauma, and emotional overstimulation
Why mothers are rarely allowed to admit regret
The pressure to perform “good motherhood” even when you’re struggling
Whether love can grow later — or never come at all

🎧 Listen if you’re:
✔ Questioning parenthood
✔ Childfree or on the fence
✔ A parent struggling with regret or guilt
✔ Tired of toxic positivity around motherhood
✔ Interested in honest, feminist conversations about family, choice, and autonomy

Join the discussion:
Do you think parental love is biological, hormonal, learned — or optional? Let us know in the comments.

💖 Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dinkypod

Keywords / Hashtags:
#RegretfulParents #MotherhoodRegret #PostpartumReality #NotLovingYourChild #HonestParenting #Childfree #DINK #ParenthoodTruth #PostpartumDepression #RedditStories #TabooTopics #Feminism #DinkyPodcast


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SMALL BUSINESS OF THE WEEK: Shop Herself Collections to snag you or someone you love a gorgeous gift this Valentine’s Day!! 

It’s the listener question episode!

Don’t miss your chance to join me in VIETNAM — and it’s an artsy person's dream itinerary! Buy your tickets while they last.

Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to sign up for a FREE 34 day trial of YNAB (You Need A Budget) and support the show.

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Follow us on YouTube.

Merch is here!!!
If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected]

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Welcome back to the Regretful Parents series. This week, Erika and Kristen read and react to a post from the Regretful Parents subreddit titled “Feel Like I’ve Ruined My Life.” Spoiler alert: he kind of has. A 29-year-old man agrees to an ultimatum — have a baby before 30 or never — and now finds himself exhausted, resentful, intimacy-deprived, and being pressured for more kids he absolutely does not want. The hosts break down the red flags, the insanity of reproductive ultimatums, and why choosing hypothetical future children over your actual partner is… deeply unwell behavior. Along the way, they discover one of the smartest parenting arrangements they’ve ever seen, question why people keep doing this to themselves, and remind everyone (once again) that ultimatums are not love.

Topics include:

• Reproductive ultimatums 🚩
• Regret after agreeing to parenthood
• Why “one and done” is a complete sentence
• A surprisingly genius split-parenting strategy
• And yet another reminder to PLEASE use your brain

🔗 Find everything we do at DinkyPod.com
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And as always: don’t get pregnant.

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We're sitting down with Rachael Eckles. In this conversation, Rachael shares her journey to becoming child-free, her career evolution from law and bioethics to fiction writing, and her advocacy for women's health. She discusses the impact of her education and health experiences on her life choices, the importance of diverse voices in publishing, and her desire to empower women through her writing and publishing platform. Rachael Eckles discusses her journey as an independent author and publisher, emphasizing the importance of providing access to publishing for others. She shares her experiences in building Aphrodite Books, her motivations for writing, and the impact of her childfree lifestyle on her creative process. Rachael also highlights the significance of empowering diverse voices in literature and the freedom to choose one's own path in life.

Connect with Rachael on Instagram 

Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode — it helps people find the show!

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Erika is taking a group of childfree travelers to VIETNAM — and it’s an artsy adventurer's dream itinerary! Buy your tickets while they last. 

Wanna get your finances in order? Use our link to sign up for a FREE 34 day trial of YNAB (You Need A Budget) and support the show.

Wanna connect with us on social media? You can find us on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads at @dinkypod. Follow us on YouTube.

If you have a question or comment, email us at [email protected]

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