Relational Drift
What does the parent errand cost over 15 years?
The Parent Errand
120 minutes, 12 times/year, 15 years — the long-term cost is 360 hours.
How the number's built.
The missed parent errand rarely looks final. At 120 minutes across 12 openings a year, it becomes 360 hours over 15 years.
If you changed one thing
Half the openings stay.
180 hours return.
No rush. It keeps until you want it.
A way through
keeping half the openings
12.0 hours/year returned
× 15 years = 180 hours returned
The Math
120 minutes / opening
12 openings / year = 24.0 hours/year
× 15 years = 360 hours
Assumptions
- Each opening lasts 120 minutes.
- 12 openings happen each year.
- Timeline spans 15 years.
- The calculation counts shared time, not relationship quality.
The arithmetic of parent errand
Last reviewed: May 2026.
An estimate built for reflection — not financial, medical, or legal advice. The figures follow the assumptions above.