How much repayment is advisable for how much net income?

That's exactly how it is. Wanting to enable something is one thing, but if nothing is really pursued, it's all for nothing. The kids end up doing a lot just because their parents want it that way or don't want to impose limits. Those are the kids who no longer have time to play because everything runs according to a schedule. We already had some like that in kindergarten ourselves, and the hovering parent then believes that the four-year-old is a multi-talent.

Mistake. We are not suggesting to you why children cost so much, we are only showing and listing examples of what could be the reason that a child certainly doesn’t become cheaper after elementary school age, but rather more expensive (than you think).

I read all of that relatively objectively with examples, but also somewhat naively and smirking at our arguments in your exaggerated listing.

Children grow up and develop their own will, whether you want it or not.
And none of us exclude playing in the mud, as long as it happens in a sandbox.

Only somehow you don’t seem to understand that between the sandbox and training there are still 15 more years full of creativity, recklessness, and thirst for knowledge.

By and large, we agree. I just still lack - admittedly too little - knowledge about what will be so expensive later. That’s the only reason for my inquiry, from which my "kids who got stupid before the iPad" then originated.

And especially your last sentence is what interests me (if I ignore your slightly arrogant way of expressing it). What happens that expensive in those 15 years of recklessness that is equivalent to the amount of daycare costs?
I asked what will cost so much money in the future – speculating on real experiences of others. You hear that on every corner.
Here, however, I hoped for more than just "that will be expensive," rather "we had a horse that cost us xxxx€ per year, but the kids loved it." "We had to go to the district championships in curling every weekend, which cost 50€ each time as an entry fee."

Google just showed that a riding lesson as well as a tennis lesson costs about 20€. Tennis twice a week, riding twice (or how often do you ride?), you can presumably calculate with 1500€ per year?
Then it really goes in the direction of daycare costs.

That’s nonsense. Who spoke about breeding?

"breeding" – and it was ypg

That's exactly how it is. Enabling is one thing, but if nothing is really pursued, it's all for nothing. Then the kids do a lot just because the parents want it so badly or don't want to limit them. Those are the children who no longer have time to play because everything is scheduled by the calendar. We already had some like that in kindergarten, and the helicopter parent then believes that the four-year-old is a multitalent

I have to admit that sometimes it happens faster than you'd like. Our son is 3 years old. We go to water familiarization once a week. Now he's starting martial arts (this kid desperately needs it and he loves it). Theoretically twice a week. And suddenly I'm out with the child 3 days a week... with a 3-year-old!!! So he only goes to training once a week as long as swimming is still ongoing. But we almost fell into the trap.

Cost per child: I can tell an example from school. My best friend back then. She was extremely musical.
Monthly costs:
private singing lessons: €80
piano lessons: €35
drums: €40
choir: €20
tennis: €50
flute: ???

Yes, she did a lot. All voluntary. We often talked about the costs of musical education, so I remember them so well. I was always jealous of the singing lessons.

I also had many hobbies, but almost always one after the other
volleyball with salt dough modeling
volleyball with ballet
volleyball with cooking class and computer course
tap dance
volleyball with tennis
In other words, my parents basically financed 2 hobbies for me. Only with tennis did I have to pay half. At that time, I was already waiting tables, so it was no problem.

Well, I guess I'm pretty much alone here with my opinion. Many really seem to think they have to "pull something together," "invest in the future," "promote talents."

My kids, on the other hand, are turning stupid in front of the iPad, not becoming socially acceptable IT people who sit at home all day and at most are allowed a break from my way too big house to the garden. Bad luck for the kids.

And all this because I doubt that children cost as much as you imagine and you DON'T HAVE TO spend so much? Where has the good old factual discussion based on facts gone?

Just keep optimizing your kids and your big talents, send them to piano lessons, golfing and tennis – ideally as a super talent at 4, a piano-playing golfer and to boarding school at 8.

My kids play in the mud as long as they want and learn what they enjoy. A banking career will still be possible then

nonsense, you're really talking rubbish. Even "simple" sports cost money like football, for example.

Shoes, cleats, some back and forth to tournaments, etc.

Learning to play even normal instruments costs money. I can't play the flute and tutoring costs.

Playing in the mud is all well and good, my kids do that too. But eventually, that's not enough for them.

What do you do in the summer when there are holidays? That costs money too if you have football camps or forest weeks.

I don't know what others do in the summer, but we go,

- Hiking (barefoot trails, discovering castles, fitness trails, etc.)
- Cycling on short tours
- Cycling to water playgrounds
- Relaxing at the lake with a playground
- Outdoor swimming pool
- etc.

It doesn't cost much money or is free, and the kids have fun.
You can spend your free time without spending a lot of money.

: What happened to your girlfriend later on?

: What did your girlfriend become later?

She became a French-English music teacher.