I'm in Ohio and yeah it gets cold but I still grill in December and January. Something about being outside with a beer and the grill just makes the stress of parenting disappear for a while. My neighbors think I'm nuts but honestly this is my therapy. Even got a little heater out there now. Worth ev...
Spent the last 3 weekends getting my garage situation together. New pegboard, labeled everything, got a proper workbench area. Sounds stupid but having a clean space where I can actually find my tools has been life changing. Now I actually want to get out there and work on projects instead of just d...
This might sound weird but I feel really isolated. I love my kids but I don't have friends anymore. All my college buddies moved away or we just grew apart. I spend my days with 5-7 year olds and my wife is always exhausted. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for my family, but I feel like a shell som...
My 8 and 10 year old have been demolishing me for weeks. I've been getting destroyed on Rainbow Road constantly. Today something clicked and I won 3 races in a row. The look on their faces was priceless. They immediately called for rematches but I'm quitting while I'm ahead haha.
Got my college sweetheart pregnant at 20. Had no plan, no money, parents flipped out. Worked two jobs, got my degree part-time, became a construction supervisor by 28. My kid is 9 now and I'm stable. What I miss: sleeping past 6am, having money for stupid stuff, the freedom to just leave whenever. W...
Small thing but it matters. Had him practice with my buddies and you could see the difference. When he meets someone now he looks them in the eye, gives a solid handshake, and says it's nice to meet you. People actually comment on it. My wife thinks I'm being weird about it but I told him these are ...
Just got on antidepressants like a week ago and I feel like I'm admitting I'm weak or broken or something. My buddy at work asked why I seem quieter and I almost told him but couldn't. I know that's stupid, I know plenty of people take them, but there's still this stigma in my head. Anyone else been...
My 8 year old stepped up to the plate for the first time ever in an actual game and I swear my heart was pounding harder than his. Third pitch he connects and sends it flying over the left fielder's head. The whole team went crazy, I got chills. He ran those bases grinning ear to ear. Worth every ea...
My son is 2 weeks old and I love him obviously but I'm not getting that overwhelming instant connection everyone talks about. I feel like I'm just following steps from the parenting books, changing diapers, watching him sleep. Is it normal to feel a bit disconnected at first? Did this change for you...
This might sound small but it's a miracle in our house. 7 and 5 year olds, usually bedtime is a whole thing with negotiations and delays. Tonight we had a dance party right before bed, got them laughing and tired, and they both just went down without resistance. Wife didn't believe it when I told he...
Tried to make a joke during dinner while running on like 4 hours of sleep from being up with the baby all night. Made absolutely zero sense and everyone just stared at me. Wife said 'Are you okay?' Nope, just dad humor powered by sleep deprivation. It's a specific genre that only lands when you're d...
Left my job to be the primary caregiver and while I'm grateful for the time with my kids it's been really isolating. My wife works long hours and all my friends still have their jobs so I don't see them much. Most of the parent groups around here seem to be moms and I feel awkward. Some days I don't...
I used to travel for work constantly and was on the partner track at my firm. Now that I have two kids I can't do the nights away anymore and I feel like I'm being passed over for promotions. My coworkers without kids are getting the big projects. I love being a dad but it sucks feeling like I have ...
Took my 3 kids on a road trip and we stopped at a gas station bathroom. The smell. The mystery puddles. A toilet paper dispenser that had clearly seen better days. I stood there thinking 'every dad has been here.' It's like an initiation ritual. The fluorescent lights, the fear that the door won't l...
First time taking the family camping and I'm probably overthinking this way too much. Got a tent, sleeping bags, some basic stuff planned. Anyone have tips for keeping kids entertained when there's no wifi or screens? And how much food should I actually pack because I have no idea what I'm doing. My...