From night shift warehouse worker to stay at home dad - 2 years later

May 51 min read

So I made the jump 2 years ago. Wife was making way more money at her job so it made financial sense for me to stay home with our two kids instead of paying for childcare. Honestly I thought I'd hate it but man, I don't regret it at all. I miss the paycheck and the identity that came with being the provider, but I gained something way better. I get to see all the first moments now. My daughter just read her first sentence yesterday and I was there. The other guys at the gym sometimes look at me weird when I talk about my day but I stopped caring what they think. What I miss most is the adult conversation and just turning my brain off at the end of a shift. What I gained is actually knowing my kids instead of just seeing them on weekends.

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Comments(10)

KKevinRegularMay 7

That's a huge shift man. How did you handle the identity change? I've been thinking about this a lot since my oldest started school. The financial math makes sense but mentally it's different being the one managing the household.

DDerek S.RegularMay 7

Two years in and you're still going strong, that's awesome. The financial side worked out but what about the personal side for you?

KKent R.RegularMay 5

That's a big move and I respect it. My wife works more than I do too and I'm trying to get comfortable with that idea. What's been the best part of being home with the kids full time?

TTrevorNew DadMay 5

This is awesome man. I'm still in the early days with my first but seeing posts like this makes me feel way better about the idea of staying home if it makes sense for us. How did you handle the identity shift from warehouse to full-time parent?

JJordan M.New DadMay 5

Two years in and you're still standing, that's what I call a win. Dad of four here and I can tell you the chaos gets more manageable once you stop fighting it. Sounds like you've found your groove.

KKevinRegularMay 6

That takes guts to make that switch. How's the day to day treating you? I imagine it's different from warehouse work.

PPedroRegularMay 6

Respect for making the decision that's best for the family even though it wasn't the traditional route. How are the kids with having dad home?

MMiguelRegularMay 6

This is cool. Night shift warehouse to SAHD is a complete 180.

BBrandonNew DadMay 6

Respect for making that work. A lot of people talk about it but don't actually do it. What's been the biggest adjustment besides the obvious paycheck difference?

KKevin M.RegularMay 7

This is awesome. Two years in, do you regret it at all or are you pretty solid with the decision? My wife and I keep running the numbers but I'm worried I'd lose my mind being home all day.