Used to just get in the car and drive. Now everything needs to be planned three weeks in advance, scheduled around nap times and snack times and 'dad I have to pee' times. I miss the freedom. But I gained something I can't really explain. Like actual purpose? Is that lame to say? My buddies still text about weekend trips and I'm like 'can't man, got soccer Saturday.' Five years ago I would have hated me.
Sleep is overrated but spontaneity gets real expensive with a kid in the car, right? At least the planned stuff means less chaos overall, that's what I tell myself anyway.
Man, I feel this already and my daughter is only a few months old. The spontaneity thing hits different once they're here. Looking forward to hearing how other dads adapt to this new reality.
Three weeks advance planning sounds about right for us too. The nap schedules are no joke, but honestly I've found some peace in the routine even if I miss just hopping in the car.
This hit hard. Remember when you could just throw a backpack together and hit the road? Now I've got a color-coded Google calendar just for bathroom breaks.
The planning part gets real once school schedules come into play. Every family outing becomes a Tetris puzzle with snack times and nap windows.
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Three weeks in advance is rookie numbers. Try three months when you've got three kids in different activities. Spontaneity is a luxury I can't afford anymore.
Real talk though - I kind of like having a routine now. At least I know where the kids are and what we're doing. The spontaneity was fun but this works better for us.