Episode
Regretful Parents: “I've Always Loved Kids — I Just Hate My Own” | Reddit Stories
- Podcast
- Dinky
- Published
- Feb 1, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 890
- Processing state
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Summary
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…