So I've been dating someone for about 4 months and things are getting serious. My kids are 5 and 8. I'm thinking about having them meet her in like a month or so - nothing crazy, maybe just ice cream or something casual. My gut says to tell my ex first out of courtesy, but I'm also not obligated to...
Three of my closest friends moved away for work in the past year. My wife has her book club and friend group but I don't really have that. Work friends are fine but we don't talk about real stuff. Most of my social interaction is with my kids (7 and 4) or my wife. I love them but it's not the same a...
They offered me a director role. 20% raise, more prestige, the whole thing. But it would've meant traveling weekly and managing a team in three time zones. I turned it down. My wife looked shocked when I told her. Then she got it. We're gonna be fine financially. My kids are 7, 9, and 12. I don't ...
I was trying to explain how the internet works and I said 'imagine the internet like a bunch of tubes' and he goes 'Dad you already look like a bunch of tubes so I think I understand now'. His mom is still laughing. It's been 20 minutes. I'm never recovering from this.
So my MIL basically has a key to our place and comes over whenever. Baby is 6 months. Every time she's here she corrects how I do things - diaper changes, feeding, even playtime. My wife doesn't see the problem because it's her mom. But it's making me feel incompetent in my own home. I don't want to...
Not gonna lie, felt weird saying no to my boss today. It was a director-level position that would've been a 40% raise, but it required being in the Atlanta office 3 days a week. With Emma (5) and Mason (2), I realized I couldn't do it. My wife already works full time and we'd be scrambling for child...
I don't even know why but every time it's my day to pick up the kids, I get this knot in my chest the hour before. We've been separated for 3 years. It's fine. We're not fighting. The exchanges are smooth. But I'm still anxious every single time. Anyone else deal with this or am I just weird?
Do you count commute time in your "work hours" when thinking about work-life balance? Like my actual work is 9-5 but I'm in the car 7:30-8:45am and 5:15-6:45pm. That's 2+ hours a day just... gone. Anyone else feel like this shouldn't be invisible time?
She's 7 and picked up the first Wings of Fire book like three weeks ago. We weren't sure she'd stick with it since she usually loses interest after a few pages. But she's been devouring it. Watched her turn the last page yesterday and just beam at me. Now she wants the entire series. This is the bes...
Got it from Dick's for like $80 and bolted it to the garage wall. My kids fight less now because they actually have something to do besides beg me for screen time. Also my 7yo is actually getting decent at shooting. Highly recommend if you're in a cold climate and need indoor activities. Amazon has ...
My 11yo has been absolutely refusing to help in the kitchen for years. Last Saturday I let him pick whatever he wanted to make and we did homemade pizza from scratch. He was SO into it - kneading the dough, making his own sauce, deciding toppings. Even asked if we can do it again next weekend! Think...
I work in sales and it's draining. Come home and literally have nothing left. My wife says I'm "checked out" during family time but like... I have no energy to engage. I'm not scrolling my phone (well, not MUCH) but I'm just sitting there. Anyone relate? How do you flip the switch?
Want to take the family hiking more (kids are 5 and 7) but it gets cold here in Denver. Do I need to go crazy with special jackets and boots or can we just bundle up in regular stuff? What about hand warmers - gimmick or actually useful? We're looking at easy trails, nothing intense. Just want to g...
Looking for books, podcasts, articles, anything really about maintaining a sense of self while being a parent. I feel like I've read 500 sleep training guides but nothing about keeping your own mental health in check and not losing who you are. Surely this is something other guys have dealt with? Wo...
My wife basically told me I need to get help or she's done. Fair, I guess. I get SO mad at stupid stuff - kids being kids, traffic, articles online, doesn't matter. I yell, I throw things sometimes, I scare my kids. I hate that version of myself but I can't seem to stop it. The therapist she found s...