# Regretful Parents: “My Kid Is Ruining My Mental Health” | Reddit Stories

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/dinky-5600583/regretful-parents-my-kid-is-ruining-my-mental-health-reddit-stories
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/dinky-5600583/regretful-parents-my-kid-is-ruining-my-mental-health-reddit-stories.md
Podcast: [Dinky](https://stenobird.com/podcast/dinky-5600583)
Published: 2026-02-19T08:00:02+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/regretful-parents-my-kid-is-ruining-my-mental-health-reddit-stories--70118775
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/70118775/riverside_copy_of_erika_kristen_feb_15_2026_001_dinky_podcast_s_stu.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/dinky-5600583/episodes/regretful-parents-my-kid-is-ruining-my-mental-health-reddit-stories
Duration seconds: 804

## Resource

In this episode, Erika and Kristen read and react to a viral post from Reddit about a parent struggling with a chronically unhappy, clingy, sleep-hating four-year-old — and the toll it’s taking on her mental health.From colicky babies to nonstop whining, sleep deprivation, and the reality of parenting advice that doesn’t always help, this conversation dives into the messy truth behind “it gets better.” Along the way, the hosts share personal stories, debate nature vs. nurture, question whether some kids are just born grumpy, and wonder if one tiny old-soul child simply belongs on a bench in New York complaining about life. They also discuss: What chronic sleep deprivation does to parents Why some kids always seem happier The pressure to follow perfect parenting advice Why “just take them somewhere fun” isn’t always helpful Whether kids actually enjoy things like trips to London or seeing Big Ben (apparently not 😅) The overstimulation nightmare of kid-heavy spaces And a wild intergenerational daycare idea spotted on TikTok If you’ve ever wondered what happens when parenting isn’t magical — this episode is for you. If you enjoy the show and want to support it, check out our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dinkypod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dinky--5953015/support .

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## Transcript

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