Left corporate job after 12 years to stay home with kids

I was a manager. Meetings, conference calls, the whole thing. Defined myself by my job title and the paycheck. My wife made more anyway so we did the math and I tapped out.

First month was weird. Like losing my identity. Now I'm the guy who knows the teachers' names and the schedule and where the good parks are. I miss the adult conversation and honestly the validation of being good at my job. But I don't miss the stress. The trade offs are real though. Less money, no title, nobody asks what I do anymore because the answer is just 'dad.' Some days that's exactly what I need to hear.