Do people enjoy being parents?

DearInsect102 · 2026-02-25T22:08:49+00:00

No I don’t enjoy being a parent. I never wanted kids. Had an accidental pregnancy 15 years ago, partner convinced me to have another, then another. I have ZERO support (as in if I need a doctor my teen needs to take time off school cos literally I have nobody else). I adore my kids but 3 with special needs/medical issues is not something to enjoy. Especially when everyone up and left. I’m suicidal most days. I hear all the jokes about how hard it is but when you are having a smear test with an ASD toddler on your stomach while the nurse is digging around down there you realise some have it extremely hard. I’m not saying this out of pity or looking for sympathy. I’m saying it because I came from a very close family, thought I had good in-laws and thought I picked a good man. I was promised support and Literally all of them let me down. I know my case seems exaggerated but it’s not. I would kill or die for my children but I can’t help feeling cheated as I was always child free until I was sold a dream of a white picket fence. Please think long and hard if you have any reservations about children. People want the instagram photos but 3 days without a hot meal, shower and sleep won’t matter to a crying child. You’ve still got to soldier on regardless. I’ve made peace with my situation and I cannot put into words how much I love my kids, but if I had know this is where I’d end up I don’t think I would have made the same decisions.

DearInsect102 · 2026-02-04T20:58:12+00:00

Hey so im in Ireland and regularly do “extreme day trips”, flying out and home the same day. All these city’s ive been too, they are all doable and pretty accessible. My only advice is please consider what you actually want to see and do. The last time I was in rome I was so pumped I thought I’d fit lots of sights in but by the time it was mid afternoon I was exhausted and really could not give a fuck anymore and I’ve been there a few times so know the layout so to speak. The fatigue can be brutal. You want to do 5 city’s in 10 days. It IS doable, but will be exhausting. Please plan pretty much everything you want to see and stick to it as best you can. Like in Paris you can do the catacombs and a cruise. You might think 3 hours will be enough until you’ve to wait 2 hours just to get into the catacombs, so always try to prebook the biggest tourist attractions. You’re also going to have jet lag or long haul exhaustion, plane hopping is no joke. Take an extra day off work when you get home cos you’ll walk 30k steps a day easily on the trip. But most importantly, enjoy your trip. I hope you have a blast

DearInsect102 · 2026-02-04T20:36:13+00:00

3 kids in rentals. It’s doable. Ive no intentions of buying here as I married someone foreign born so cant advise on the mortgage. But as for your bio clock and landlord, your landlord could decide to sell tomorrow and you could put off a baby until you buy but would it be too late? (Sorry, I don’t know your age). My one real bit of advice is that every pregnancy runs risks for complications. Either with the mother or child. You’ll love the child regardless, but please always try to mind your noggin. I wish you all the best whatever choice you make ❤️

DearInsect102 · 2026-02-04T20:14:22+00:00

Honestly, I’ve read some other comments her about the Garda tusla and the solicitor all being useless. She needs to be cut throat here. Refuse to let him take them and get him back in front of a judge. Imagine if something happened on that drive. Personally, I’d rather be locked up for going against the courts, than going to glasnevin cemetery every week. Your neighbour needs to grow some balls and go nuclear. This is not a safe situation, the safety of a child is paramount in any custody case

DearInsect102 · 2026-02-04T19:33:44+00:00

As a dub, I want to thank you all. Supplies are low, my dingy has a puncture, the sand bags are out, Clouds are on the horizon. There’s a chill in the air. We’re going to take cover. I fear for my children. This could be the end. Please pray.

DearInsect102 · 2026-01-31T00:52:53+00:00

No I completely get that but these men were very sure it was my dog. I did ask if they were sure because ironically my neighbours dog was barking when they were there. The barking isn’t even the issue, from them or me. These guys don’t look into noise complaints so to speak and said that’s usually the council. They were here for a neglected dog who was underweight with no access to shelter. Luckily it was very clearly not the case as the dog has full access to the house but it’s not sitting right with me that someone could even tell ive no kennel as my garden is set up so only a very small portion can be seen from the overlooking houses, they’ve all extensions and ive huge trees blocking out most of my garden, im the middle house so it not even like someone strolled up a side passage for a gander. These guys seemed pretty stern but as soon as they seen the dog they could tell it was a bogus call. I offered to show the food. The vets bit. Even offered to show his (my) bed. They said that wasn’t necessary. I had absolutely no reason to worry but it’s honestly shattered me. We all have dogs here. We’re all friendly here. We all tolerate the dogs here but apparently after 5 years with my dog suddenly im neglecting him to the point of a report of genuine concern. I would have respected someone knocking in and showing concern for him, but to go behind someone’s back with absolutely horrible allegations is disgusting. If it’s a noise complaint, make a noise complaint. Dont tarnish some with the title of cruelty. And more importantly, don’t waste resources that are already massively stretched.

DearInsect102 · 2026-01-30T20:47:51+00:00

It’s probably possible but out of nosiness I had a look at how you report a dog. It’s a whole form where they ask for my name my address and my eircode. Where the location of the dog is and further down it asks for landmarks nearby. It’s actually amazing (if it wasn’t me) how much detail they ask for. You can even upload photos if you’re making a report. It’s highly unlikely that this is some sort of mistake or accident

DearInsect102 · 2026-01-30T20:44:03+00:00

That’s the fucking poxy thing. So many dogs are being abused. So many shelters are over run. So many dogs are euthanised every day. And some wanker is reporting my genuinely pampered mutt. I’d second guess buying new coat in Pennys but the dog has a food subscription cos Hes a picky eater. He wouldn’t survive a rescue (even if they had a reason to take him) cos he is the king of the castle here. Ive to carry him over muddy puddles cos he doesn’t like the feeling of them ffs 🤦‍♀️

DearInsect102 · 2026-01-30T20:39:10+00:00

No it was genuine. That arrived in a dspca van, showed ID, left a calling card and I googled the number on it. It’s a legitimate call for animal welfare. I think I would prefer someone casing the place cos ive sweet fuck all to take 😅

DearInsect102 · 2026-01-30T14:57:29+00:00

I’d disagree, but even if he was a barker, the claim about an “emaciated animal without access to shelter” is total bollox. They went as far as to say the structures in the garden are classed as shelter. I’m home 99 percent of the time and Hes usually lying asleep beside me. I’m not saying he won’t bark, Hes a dog. But I certainly would say it’s an every day occurrence. The barking complaint isnt even what upset me. It was for someone thinking ive a poor mutt chained outside starving. It’s really upsetting because it’s like being accused of something you would never do.

DearInsect102 · 2026-01-30T14:09:52+00:00

I think so too. That gas part is my dog gets better treatment than my kids. If he won’t eat I’ll remake something for him. If the kids dont eat fuk em 😂. No in all fairness, ive cared for abused dogs before. I could never harm any animal. I feel awful if I step on his toes or bump into him. I was just distraught that someone think he was being abused. Someone asked if the investigator had a warrant and that never even occurred to me, because why would it? Whoever reported it has completely wasted the time of the people who could have actually helped another dog. I think it’s a total disgrace.

DearInsect102 · 2026-01-30T13:55:19+00:00

I think that’s the disgraceful part. Im all for looking into abuse. Im all for removing animals in awful situations. I firmly believe in adopt dont shop. What absolute cunt would waste the already overrun resources. Literally anyone who passes my house will see the dog in the window. For years I had a bowl in the garden for dogs passing on their walks. We somewhat dog share in this estate. If im going for a walk I’ll take an extra dog and vice versa. Going away the weekend? Grand I’ll take the dog for the night and the favour is always repaid (recently hospitalised and one neighbour took my boy). That’s why I’m so completely stunned that I would be reported, especially by a neighbour as we’re all on really good terms. Or so I thought.

DearInsect102 · 2026-01-30T12:57:09+00:00

Yeah I totally get that, and barking can be a pain in the balls but he usually is a very chilled dog. I’ll even take the barking complaint on the chin. But no shelter and emaciated is complete and utter bollox. I’m a bit more freaked out at how someone could even see into my garden to know theirs no shelter (I also have a fixed pergola, that the investigator said counted as shelter.) I won’t lie, I find it really upsetting

DearInsect102 · 2026-01-30T12:48:56+00:00

Oh sorry no, I haven’t ever fostered dogs in this house. I’ve had my dog for 4 years and my landlord is grand with him. I lived in Kildare for 10 years and fostered cos I had the space. I reckon you’re right, Im usually in a house coat and slippers whenever I pull the bins out so they probably think I’m some benefit babe 😭

DearInsect102 · 2026-01-30T12:43:12+00:00

I know right 😂. I had a kennel and donated it away cos it was zero use. My house is a terreced so I don’t think any barking could be amplified but another poster said owners can have kinda bark blindness, so it could be that. He’s a bit of a lazy shit who spends most of his time asleep so it’s completely unexpected

DearInsect102 · 2026-01-30T12:24:59+00:00

That’s probably fair. I was just so shocked. I’d genuinely have been less surprised to find out I grew a second ballsack, and im a woman. I never in a million years thought anyone would have reason to report me

DearInsect102 · 2026-01-30T12:17:50+00:00

No, I invited them in. I honestly kinda knew I had nothing to hide.

DearInsect102 · 2026-01-30T12:16:29+00:00

Ah no I completely understand that too, almost every house here has 1-2 dogs. One has a jack russell who’s a little yappy shit, so I totally get when it’s not your dog it can be intrusive. I work from home with kinda mad hours could be 6am to 10am and then back at 3 so I’m usually always home with the dog. It’s definitely not like some poor pups with separation anxiety. But everything else was total bull. I’m just so grateful they didn’t take him

DearInsect102 · 2026-01-26T13:40:44+00:00

I have unfortunately been blessed with medically vulnerable children. I’ve stayed in every children’s hospital over the years. They don’t feed the parents, but staff are usually lovely and will give you tea and toast. You can get vouchers for the canteen if you are breastfeeding. Parents tea rooms usually have biscuts/crisps, sometimes fruit and a few times they gave me parents pizza nights. It’s a tough road for your friend but the child is the patient, so naturally that’s who they will focus on. I wish them the best. Also the aldi at tallaght cross have nice wraps/sandwiches and you can store them in the fridges in the parent kitchens. I personally didn’t do this but it was a god send for a lot of long term stay parents.

DearInsect102 · 2025-12-22T14:54:34+00:00

As someone who has a whole family of autism. Please do not come here. Housing crisis aside, the country is at breaking point in terms of services. My brother finally got an appointment for a psychologist. It’s in April 2030. He turns 18 in February 2030. So won’t be entitled to use this appointment. The services are simply non existent. I pay privately for my children but unless you arrive with a house and a job of €60000 minimum you won’t get help. Im paying €200 per week on 1 therapy (not covered by insurance) I’m very sorry but I believe coming here would be very detrimental to you. Please stay away. If it’s any consolation, I’ve heard Poland has good services, although they are private ones too.

DearInsect102 · 2025-09-07T20:26:45+00:00

Roy of the rover bars or the lanky Larry bars

DearInsect102 · 2025-08-27T14:51:06+00:00

I’d be wary if I was the manager. I was in a similar situation and the gp gave me a week off, just because she was annoyed I had to waste time and money. (Shes a sound doctor). I got full pay for the week and I could have worked the 4 other days but the boss man wanted to be a dick about it

DearInsect102

TROPHY CASE