From corporate zombie to stay at home dad - 2 years in

RyanRegular

May 31 min read

Left my tech job in 2022 making 180k and honestly it's been wild. I miss the paycheck and the identity thing, like I used to introduce myself by my title and now I'm just... the guy who makes lunches. But my kids actually know me? My oldest asked me to help with homework instead of just asking his mom. That alone is worth it. Miss the adult conversations and business trips (weird flex I know). Gained actual free time and the ability to be present. Some days I feel like I'm failing at everything because the house isn't clean and I haven't 'accomplished' anything. Working through that mentally but wouldn't go back.

3 comments127 views

Comments(3)

MMike T.New DadMay 3

That identity shift is no joke. I haven't made that leap yet but watching you navigate it is real. The money thing would stress me out but sounds like you're finding meaning in it, which maybe counts for something.

RRexRegularMay 3

Three months in and I'm already terrified of missing these early days, so I respect you taking the leap even if it's messy. Do you think you'll ever go back to that kind of work or are you building something different now?

BBrianNew DadMay 3

That's a massive change. I'm new to all this parenting stuff so I don't have the career piece to compare, but losing your identity in the job shuffle sounds brutal. Sounds like you're being honest about the trade-offs at least.