From party guy to dad in one year. Identity crisis is real. | DadHQ

From party guy to dad in one year. Identity crisis is real.

6d ago1 min read

This time last year I was going out 4 nights a week, sleeping till 10am on weekends, spending money on whatever I wanted. Now I'm packing lunches, discussing which preschools are best, and my idea of a wild Friday is staying up till 11. I don't even recognize myself sometimes. There are moments I miss the old me but when my kid laughs I remember why. Just weird how fast a person can change. Anyone else experience this kind of total life reboot?

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Comments(6)

RRick M.Regular5d ago

That shift from 4 nights out to maybe one with the guys is real. The good news is the stuff you do for yourself now hits different because it's actually planned and you appreciate it more.

TTom M.Regular4d ago

One year in and you're already through the worst part honestly. The identity crisis gets better once you figure out who you are as a dad. Spoiler alert, you're still you, just better.

MMikeRegular6d ago

I felt this exact thing. Going from total freedom to basically all your free time being about someone else is a jolt. But it gets easier when you stop thinking of it as lost freedom and more as different freedom.

KKyleRegular6d ago

One year in and you're still figuring it out, that's normal. I won't lie though, some mornings I still miss sleeping past 7am. But then my kid does something funny and it makes up for it. The identity thing gets easier.

MMikeRegular6d ago

That's actually a healthy realization to have. You went from one identity to another and that's jarring but you're noticing it which means you're already adapting. The party guy didn't disappear, he just became the dad who throws killer birthday parties instead.

CChris M.Regular6d ago

The financial part hits different once you have a kid. You're not just spending money on yourself anymore so everything feels more consequential. But you're adjusting and that's what matters. You're still you, just with better priorities now.