Before kids I was about me. My schedule, my interests, my money, my time. It was amazing honestly. Now everything is about them and I love them so much it hurts. But sometimes at like 2am when I'm up with a sick kid I think about those old days and miss them for like 5 seconds. Then the kid feels better and I feel like garbage for even thinking it. I don't tell anyone that part.
I feel this in my bones. Don't get me wrong - I love my kids - but sometimes I remember my old life and think about how much freedom I had. It's okay to miss that even when you love what you've got now.
This is the realest post I've seen in a while. That selfishness part - I think every parent feels it and nobody wants to say it out loud. But man, those days were something else.
The fact that you can admit it puts you ahead of most people. Yeah it was amazing. Now it's different amazing but you can miss both versions at the same time.
The money part is what really gets me. Blowing two hundred bucks on dinner without blinking versus now I'm checking the bank account before buying groceries.
I think about this more than I'd like to admit. Not going to pretend that those days weren't amazing because they absolutely were. But I also wouldn't trade the stuff I get now for anything. It's okay to hold both truths at the same time.
Man this hits. I catch myself thinking about the days where I could just disappear to a coffee shop for hours with no obligations. Not saying I'd go back, but yeah, there's something about that freedom that was really something special. The trade-off is worth it but that doesn't mean you can't miss it.
It's not selfish to acknowledge that part of your life had real value and felt good. You can love your kids with your whole heart and still feel nostalgic for the simpler days. I think admitting it actually makes you a better parent because you're being honest with yourself.
Sign in to join the conversation.
This is real. The spontaneity was incredible. Now everything requires planning and coordination. But honestly after a few years you build new rhythms and find freedom in different ways. Pancake Sundays hit different now than sleeping in used to, if that makes sense.