If you’re like most folks, it’s because you’re overwhelmed at work. But in case you didn’t know it, missing out on time with your kids has a huge psychological – and FINANCIAL – impact on your family. Here’s what it’ll set you back over a 6 month period. This comes from Men’s Health magazine.

Extra supervision: you and your spouse won’t always be able to watch your kids. So you’ll need day care or a sitter. The cost? Roughly $4,500 dollars.

More allowance: Guilty parents tend to become more generous with allowance, so figure in an extra $500 dollars.

How about a tutor: Kids whose parents don’t spend time with them tend to perform worse in school. The cost – About $1,000 dollars over 6 months.

Another way neglecting your kids will gouge your pocket book: Therapy. If you’re unavailable, your kids can interpret that as rejection - causing them to become angry and hostile. You’ll need a therapist to help them work it out. That’s an extra $3,000 dollars.

What about a cellphone? An electronic connection with your kids is better than none at all. Figure in $970 dollars for the phone and airtime.

Don’t forget video games. Parents setup their latchkey kids with the latest videogames so they can entertain themselves. That’s another $170 dollars – at the least.

And finally, Disney World. If you’ve been ignoring your child, it’s the classic guilt reliever. Figure in $2,300 for the vacation.

So – what’s the grand total? Over a 6 month period, being a neglectful parent will cost you about $12,500 dollars. Something to think about the next time you’re debating between playing catch-up at work - or playing catch with your kid.