Looking to plan a camping trip for next month with the wife and two kids (5 and 8). We want something not too remote but also not overcrowded. We've done state parks before and they're good but I'm curious if anyone has hidden gem recommendations. Budget isn't a huge issue but we're not looking for ...
Took my boys on a 4 mile hike last Saturday and they actually made it the whole way without complaining too much. My 6 year old was dragging by mile 3 but we bribed him with the promise of ice cream after. Trail was perfect difficulty level for their age. We're already planning the next one. Anyone ...
Anyone else struggle with constant worry that you're screwing up your kids? I replay conversations I had with my son over and over, wondering if I was too harsh or didn't listen well enough. My wife says I'm being too hard on myself but the anxiety is real. Just want to be a good dad but my brain wo...
Started seeing a therapist last month because my anxiety was affecting my marriage and my ability to parent. I thought it would just be someone telling me what to do but it's way more about examining myself and my patterns. It's exhausting and sometimes makes me feel worse before better. But I keep ...
I've never dealt with depression before but sometime around March it just started. Nothing specific happened, everything in my life is fine, but I woke up one day feeling empty. Been dragging through months of this. Got on medication about 6 weeks ago and it's helping but man this is scary. Nobody w...
Trying to raise my boy right with old school values, but everywhere I look society is telling him that traditional masculinity is wrong. I'm teaching him to work hard, respect women, look people in the eye, and be responsible for his actions. But his school is pushing this opposite message. How do y...
Took my boys to visit my grandfather last month and he spent time teaching them about keeping your word, working hard, and treating people right. No lectures, just living examples. He's 82 and still has a firm handshake and says please and thank you to everyone. My oldest asked me later why grandpa ...
My 6 year old wants an iPad like his friends at school and I'm conflicted. My wife thinks 30 minutes a day is fine, I'm worried he'll just want more and more. I grew up with none of this and turned out fine but I also know times are different now. There are actual educational apps out there. But is ...
Long story short, we had an informal arrangement and I've been giving her cash every month for the last year. Now her new boyfriend probably told her to formalize it and she's claiming I owe thousands in back support? I have some text messages and stuff but not official payment records. This is abou...
This is the third time in two months she's asking me to swap weekends. I get it, life happens, but I've already told the kids we're doing stuff this weekend and made plans. How do you guys handle this without being the bad guy? I don't want to be difficult but I also can't keep rearranging my entire...
I used to be the guy organizing weekend trips, staying out til 2am, always up for whatever. Then my daughter was born and everything just shifted. I'm not that guy anymore. I leave parties by 9:30, I plan around nap schedules, I think about bedtime routines. Some friendships faded because I couldn't...
I said sure. Been hiding in the garage for 3 hours now and honestly it's been the most peaceful afternoon I've had in months. The only downside is my wife keeps texting asking if I'm actually coming back in. Worth it for the quiet time though.
Been using YouTube Kids for my 5 year old and it lets him watch stuff without ads which is great. But sometimes I'll notice him scrolling and finding videos that seem a little off even if they're technically approved. How much should I actually monitor what he watches or am I being paranoid? My wife...
Saw my kid hiding in a clothing rack at Target. I walked by and said "I'm looking for my son but all I found were these *hanging around*" and just kept walking. Three dads nearby actually got it and laughed. That's my people right there.
Used to stay up til 2am gaming and watching streams. Now I'm up at 5 doing dad stuff and honestly I kinda miss those nights. But then my 4 year old runs in and crawls into bed with me and I realize I wouldn't trade this for anything. Miss the freedom though not gonna lie. Miss sleeping in until noon...