Lost my identity but found something better

1w ago1 min read

Before kids I had this whole image of who I was. Had hobbies, worked late, spent money on stuff I thought mattered. Then my first was born and I just felt lost for like a year. Couldn't remember who I was outside of being a dad. Miss some of that independence, not gonna lie. But I'm learning that being a dad isn't replacing who I am, it's just adding this whole new dimension to it. Starting to find hobbies I can do WITH my kids instead of away from them. Been rebuilding myself around that and it's way better.

3 comments126 views

Comments(3)

EEli L.Regular1w ago

The first one changes you completely doesn't it? All that stuff we thought defined us suddenly feels pretty empty compared to what we're building with our kids. It's wild how fast that switch flips.

CCarlos M.Regular1w ago

I get it, that identity shift is real. But I've found that the hobbies and stuff I cared about, some of it just got reimagined instead of gone. Plus folding laundry while my kids sleep is kind of my zen time now, so finding peace in the everyday stuff helps.

LLiam S.Regular1w ago

That's a big realization right there. I'm learning that being present for my kids every other week has shown me more about who I actually am than all those years of just doing my own thing. The identity isn't lost, it just got redirected.