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

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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 

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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. 

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In this episode, Erika and Kristen dive into a jaw-dropping Reddit post titled “I Am A Roller Coaster Of Regret And Acceptance.” From religious guilt to missed abortions, dating struggles as a single parent, and the crushing realities of living with family, this story sparks one of our most chaotic discussions yet.

We unpack:
Why people banking on miscarriage is not a life plan
The real statistics about pregnancy loss
How religion traps people — especially women — in unwanted parenthood
Why telling single parents to “just make more money” is useless advice
The myth of “plenty of good men who will raise your kid”
Dating with kids and the harsh math of shrinking romantic options
What realistic support actually looks like for regretful parents
Why child support and 50/50 custody are not as simple as Reddit makes it sound
How societal expectations sabotage women’s independence

Plus:
Erika threatens to hand out abortions like Oprah gives out cars
Kristen Googles miscarriage stats mid-episode
Speculation on whether these Reddit commenters are bots
A brief detour into Europe trips, face masks, and alleged co-host hatred
A public reminder: STOP GETTING PREGNANT

Perfect for listeners who:
Are childfree or childfree-curious
Love dark humor, honesty, and chaos
Want a realistic look at the consequences of accidental parenthood
Enjoy commentary on Reddit’s wildest regret-parent stories

💬 Have a regretful parent story?
Email us at [email protected] — we might read yours on a future episode.

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Final reminder:
Don’t. Get. Pregnant.


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In today’s Regretful Parents episode, Erika and Kristen dive into a viral story from the I Regret Having Children Facebook page — and this time, it’s not a confession but a financial horror story. An Ohio mom’s TikTok exploded online after revealing the NICU bill for her premature quadruplets: $4.04 million. 
Erika and Kristen unpack the wild reality of childbirth costs in America, why one medical complication can financially ruin a family overnight, and how unpredictable — and brutally expensive — pregnancy and birth can be. 

Inside this episode:
• A NICU bill for quadruplets that hit $4 million
• Why childbirth and complications are financially catastrophic in the U.S.
• Parents of twins facing $11 million in NICU charges
• How insurance actually works (and doesn’t) for medically complex births
• Hidden hospital costs, nonsense itemized charges & billing scams
• Why “just have kids” ignores medical and financial reality
• The emotional toll of raising premature or medically fragile infants
• Why the childfree movement keeps gaining traction
• The fear, uncertainty, and chaos behind “miracle baby” stories
• Why influencers oversimplify parenthood into “children are a blessing”
• U.S. healthcare vs. Europe’s systems — and who ends up paying

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Thanks, Dink Squad — and remember: don’t get pregnant.

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Today we are joined by the hilarious Liza Treyger, otherwise known as Glitter Cheese on social media. Liza is a comedian you may know from Netflix’s The Degenerates and Survival of the Thickest or her hit podcast That’s Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, where she dives deep into Law & Order episodes, true crime, and pop culture. She’s hilarious and if you love Dinky, you’ll love Liza.

Connect with Liza on Instagram.

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\Erika is taking a group of childfree travelers to VIETNAM — and it’s an artsy adventurer's dream itinerary! ONLY 12 SEATS REMAIN AT TIME OF PUBLICATION!

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

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Welcome back to our Regretful Parents series. In this episode, Kristen and Erika react to a Reddit post titled “Motherhood Has Been Hell As An Anxious Person,” where an overwhelmed mom explains how becoming a parent completely destroyed her mental health, sleep, and sense of stability. This is one of the most honest Reddit parenting stories we’ve covered. Before having kids, the original poster felt her anxiety was under control. She had routines, sleep, self-care, time for exercise, friendships, and a stable lifestyle. But motherhood brought sleep deprivation, overstimulation, constant responsibility, and the loss of basic personal freedom. Her anxiety returned with a vengeance, leaving her controlling, exhausted, and unable to maintain her own mental or physical health. 

We discuss:
• What happens when anxious people become parents
• Sleep deprivation and the mental health collapse it can cause
• The myth that motherhood is always fulfilling or “worth it”
• Why self-care is not selfish, especially for parents
• How societal pressure pushes people to have kids they aren’t prepared for
• The fear of being labeled selfish for prioritizing mental health
• Why so many parents feel regret but cannot say it out loud
• Neurodivergence, overstimulation, and sensory overload in parenting
• How childfree people often avoid these struggles by choice

If you’re exploring the childfree lifestyle, questioning parenthood, managing anxiety, or looking for honest conversations about modern parenting, this episode dives into the real challenges parents face—but aren’t allowed to talk about.

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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:17 Why anxiety and motherhood often collide
02:00 How sleep deprivation destroys mental health
05:00 The motherhood myth and societal pressure
07:00 Why parents don’t expect the loss of freedom
10:00 Self-care vs. “selfishness”
13:00 Neurodivergence and sensory overload
18:00 The fear of constant danger
20:00 Final thoughts

Keywords: motherhood anxiety, anxious mom, regretting motherhood, regretful parents, parenting burnout, sleep deprivation mom, overwhelmed mom, childfree by choice, should I have kids, mental health and parenting, Reddit stories, Dinky Pod, Kristen and Erika, parenting regret, motherhood expectations, anxious parents, overstimulation parenting

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Welcome back to another episode in our Regretful Parents series — where we dive deep into stories from the Regretful Parents subreddit. Today’s post comes from a woman who is 7 weeks pregnant, spiraling with anxiety, and realizing she may not actually want a baby — even though her husband does. She’s 35, terrified of change, and suddenly questioning everything.

In this episode, we talk about: ✨ Fear-based pregnancies and panic spirals ✨ Pressure from partners who want kids ✨ Why “children are funny” is NOT a reason to reproduce ✨ Abortion, guilt, intuition, and regret ✨ Why parenthood is a lifetime contract you cannot return ✨ The hard truth: You can divorce your husband… you cannot divorce your child If you're childfree, childfree-curious, or just fascinated by the realities people rarely talk about, this episode is for you.

🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: Want more than just the heavy stuff? Our Dinky Pod podcast dives into travel, comedy, interviews, astrology, politics, and all things childfree life. Search Dinky wherever you get your podcasts.

💬 LET’S CONNECT: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube — @DinkyPod 👇 Tell us in the comments: What would you do in her situation?
#regretfulparents #redditstories #childfree #childfreebychoice #parentregret #childfreewomen #unexpectedpregnancy #abortionstories #relationshipadvice #pregnancyregret #redditreadings #dinkypod

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This episode’s returning guest is Maggie Dickens, licensed therapist and the host of Unapologetically Childfree. Maggie’s built an incredible space for childfree women who are done holding it all together for everyone else and ready to feel as supported as everyone else. She’s got a mix of therapy smarts, real talk, and a calming energy that makes you want to exhale and finally stop carrying everyone’s emotional baggage. In this episode, Maggie joins to talk through how to stop being the entire village and do it guilt-free. And today, just in time for the holidays, she’s sharing some strategies to regulate your nervous system. Connect with Maggie on Instagram.

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE WEEK: Contact Taylor of Oxley Consulting Services for support in building personalized administrative solutions to help you make real progress in your life + in your business.

Merch is here!!! 

New Dinky trip alert!! 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]

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.

Welcome back our Regretful Parents series! In this episode, Erika and Kristen react to a viral Reddit post from a parent who openly regrets having kids — and his reasons why will make your jaw drop. From religious guilt and peer pressure to capitalism and walkable cities, this conversation breaks down why so many parents are speaking out about regret, exhaustion, and the myth of “the village.”

We dive into:

• The viral Reddit post titled “For the ones lurking and seeking answers”
• Why some people regret having kids — and what they wish they’d known
• The impact of religion, social pressure, and capitalism on family planning
• The myth of “it takes a village” and what parents actually need: money, services, and walkable cities
• Why billionaires and late-stage capitalism are part of the parenting crisis

GET MORE: 

Find us on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @dinkypod

Join our community:
Find childfree friends, connect with other fence-sitters, and join our next trip at dinkypod.com.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro – The “Regretful Parents” series
00:21 The viral Reddit post
01:00 The “sex drive” rant
03:00 Religion, guilt, and regret
05:00 “You need a village” vs “You need services”
06:00 Capitalism, billionaires, and burnout
08:00 Dinky Pod community & Patreon

Keywords: regretful parents, childfree podcast, childfree lifestyle, should I have kids, parent regret, Reddit parenting, childfree women, childfree couples, religious guilt parenting, capitalism parenting crisis, late stage capitalism, Dinky Pod, Erika and Kristen, fence sitters, walkable cities parenting

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support.

Select Regretful Parents episodes are being uploaded to the podcast feed — to watch the full series, visit Dinky Podcast on our YouTube!

Welcome back to our Regretful Parents series, where hosts Erika and Kristen read and react to posts from parents who regret having kids. This episode dives into a Reddit confession titled “4 A.M. Thoughts” — a raw look at the exhaustion, resentment, and grief that some parents feel behind closed doors.

Erika and Kristen unpack it all:
🐶 The dog that remembers the “before times”
☕ The cold coffee and endless morning chaos
😩 The invisible labor of motherhood
🧠 The mental load and emotional burnout

Timestamps:
00:36 – The “4 A.M. Thoughts” Reddit post
06:00 – The emotional toll of motherhood
10:00 – When parenthood feels like a prison sentence
15:00 – Quiet mornings, lost freedom, and what-ifs
18:00 – Unpacking lore about Charles Dickens' wife story (yikes)
22:00 – Final thoughts

💬 Join the Discussion:
Would you go back to bed at 4 a.m.? Or stay up to savor the time with your dog? 

💡 About the Show:
Regretful Parents is part of the Dinky Podcast, where Erika and Kristen explore child-free living, parental regret, and the culture around choosing (or not choosing) kids. 

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts!
🌐 Visit DinkyPod.com for more information + to learn about our trips

#RegretfulParents #ChildFreeByChoice #ParenthoodRegret #DinkyPodcast #ChildFreeCommunity #Antinatalism #ParentBurnout #MomRegret #RealParenthood #DINKLife #ChildFreeLiving #ParenthoodUnfiltered #PodcastClips #RedditStories


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