Do you think people underestimate the work and expense to have and raise children?

Most definitely.

Of course. Especially with the first one.

I didn’t, but then I was told so often and so vehemently that I wouldn’t be able to handle it, that I did everything wrong before my child was born, that whatever I was “trying to prove” was stupid and would teach me a lesson.
But that was just my family. Strangers were much nicer, while basically saying the same things.

ETA: To answer your actual Q, I think it’s likely that they do, yes.

People would have to do basic math so yes, they do underestimate.

I think so. Over ten years ago, I was paying over a thousand dollars a month for child care (private day care at someone’s house, then a combo of the lady’s house combined with a nursery school). I don’t know how I did it, and that was post taxes, so it’s money that if I didn’t have a kid, would have gone into the bank.

Another thing that many people don’t remember is that when you have a school-aged child, you’re not going on vacation during the cheaper times like October and May or winter. You’re going on vacation when most other families are going on vacation – the week between Christmas and New Year’s, spring break, and July and August. Vacation spots are extra busy and flights are most expensive then.

My friends certainly have. I can’t count all the times I’ve heard ‘I just stay home necause childcare is so ecpensive.’
A lot of the men end up the sole providers for the family so it’s a lot of pressure that doesn’t always end well.

@SQUEEKY2 Not those of us who are doing/have done that!

Obviously.
Cars, boats, houses, and kids are all underestimated.

Oh, HECK yes!

I think that just like everything else, there are always unforeseen expenses and challenges. No two children are alike either. I knew it was going to be a huge expense and a lot of work. When my ex got pregnant with and gave birth to twins, I still had a shocker on the expense and work.
I think what good parents can do is set where their priorities are going to be. They can be committed to being a parent and to try to do the best they can.

As a matter of practicality, parenthood has to be one of the riskiest and most expensive ventures out there. It’s far more of a crapshoot than people want to believe. I mean everyone from Charles Manson, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin…what is it they all have in common? Each of them was once someone’s darling baby boy.

Yes.