Been separated 8 months and finally got an apartment with enough space for both my boys (5 and 8). Last weekend was our first overnight together since I moved out. Ngl I was nervous - had no idea if I set up their room right, if they'd feel weird about it, all that stuff. But they actually seemed ex...
After a year of chaos, here's what finally clicked: **Mon/Wed**: In office all day **Tue/Thu**: Home, do focus work before 9am (kids still sleeping), 10-12 is meetings/collab, then afternoon is flexible/pickup time **Friday**: Fully remote, kids at school, deep work only It's not perfect but my ma...
Followed a YouTube guide for like 3 hours on the smoker last Sunday. Temp control, wrapping at the stall, the whole nine yards. Ngl I was skeptical the whole time but when we cut into it at dinner everyone went silent for like 10 seconds. Then my 11-year-old said "Dad this is better than that place ...
So my wife and I have been praying about some serious financial stuff. We're not broke but tight you know? Well Monday my old boss texts me out of nowhere asking if I want some freelance work. It's exactly what we need and honestly felt like the Lord just opened a door. Sometimes I forget to expect ...
Finally bit the bullet and built two 4x8 raised beds in the backyard. Wife was skeptical but I showed her some pictures of what people grow and she's actually excited now. Spent last weekend getting soil and planting seeds. The whole neighborhood is gonna smell like my tomato plants by August and ho...
Nothing crazy happened - just work stress, kids being difficult, wife and I bickering. But normally by Wednesday I'm in a dark place mentally. This week I actually used some of the coping strategies my therapist taught me (breathing exercises, specifically naming thoughts vs facts, asking for help)....
Wasn't sure if he'd be into it but we spent like 2 hours on Saturday morning doing the Scratch tutorials and he made this little game where a cat chases a mouse around the screen. He was SO proud and immediately wanted to show his mom. Honestly might be the best screen time investment we've made. If...
We borrowed my brother's SNOO for a week while visiting family and honestly it felt like cheating. Our daughter went from 3-hour sleep stretches to 5-6 hours. She's 3 months old. I know it's $1,600 and people say we're ridiculous but we're seriously considering biting the bullet. Anyone else rent fi...
Don't get me wrong I love our church community but lately I've been noticing so much fakeness. Guys acting all holy on Sunday then talking trash about their neighbors on Monday. Women making catty comments then playing nice on stage. I'm trying to be the real deal at home but how do I protect my kid...
Don't get me wrong, I love my kids. But having them home from school for a random day means I have to explain why I can't just "pause work" to play with them all day. My 6yo doesn't understand that Daddy's job doesn't just pause for 8 hours. Yesterday was rough. Anyone else struggle with this or is ...
Explains SO MUCH about why parenting feels like chaos. I thought I was just bad at follow-through and organization but apparently I've been undiagnosed ADHD my whole life. Started meds last week and it's like someone turned on the lights. I can actually sit with my 7yo for homework help without gett...
Two years ago I was completely glued to my phone, doom scrolling for hours, checking work emails at night, taking pictures of food nobody asked to see. My 5 year old literally called me out yesterday, asked why I'm always looking at it instead of playing with him. Felt like a punch to the gut but in...
Been working on this for like 6 months. Today he just... did it. No prompting, no sitting down next to him. Just walked over and tied them both before we left for school. I may have teared up a little in the kitchen lol. Small win but feels HUGE.
We just had our second kid 3 months ago and honestly I've been pretty checked out. Not sleeping great even when the baby sleeps, zero interest in stuff I used to love, just going through the motions at work. Wife brought it up gently and I was like "that's not a guy thing" but then I googled it and....
We're doing our first real backpacking trip with my boys (11 and 14) this summer in Yosemite. Everyone's excited but I'm secretly freaked out about logistics - how much weight is too much for them to carry, what food is easiest to cook on a camp stove, bear canisters, all of it. We've done day hikes...