From party guy to soccer dad - I don't recognize myself | DadHQ

From party guy to soccer dad - I don't recognize myself

1w ago1 min read

Ten years ago I was hitting bars 3 nights a week, sleeping till noon on weekends, basically doing whatever I wanted. Now I'm the guy packing snacks for soccer games and worried about my kids' sleep schedules. Sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder where that guy went. Don't get me wrong, I love my life now and wouldn't trade my family for anything but there's this weird grief I didn't expect. Like I had to kill off a part of myself to be a good dad.

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Comments(7)

JJoeRegular1w ago

Man this hits different. I went from sleeping till 10am on Saturdays to being up at 6 for soccer games and I actually prefer it now. Not gonna lie though the transition was weird, like mourning the old version of yourself a little bit.

RRyan M.Regular1w ago

This is beautiful honestly. The thing is you're probably a better version of yourself now even if it doesn't feel like it. My kids have made me want to be someone worth them knowing.

GGarrett M.New Dad1w ago

Same exact situation here. Ten years ago I was all about the nightlife, now I'm that guy who gets excited about a good puzzle session with my daughter. You don't recognize yourself but your kids know you and that's what matters.

LLucas M.Regular1w ago

I'd be curious what triggered the change for you. Was it just having kids or did something specific make you want to flip the script?

CChristopher T.New Dad1w ago

Man, I'm only a few months in and already feeling this shift. The bar nights feel like a different lifetime, but honestly packing those snacks hits different now. You're not losing yourself, you're just becoming a different version that actually matters more.

TTom E.Regular1w ago

This hits hard. I get every other weekend with mine and I'd trade a thousand bar nights for the feeling of being present like you are now. That snack packing version of you is the real one.

SSamuelNew Dad1w ago

Same energy here with the 3 month old. Yeah the old party guy is gone but the soccer dad guy? He's way cooler. You're still you, just with better priorities and way less sleep.