I thought I'd miss the freedom. Instead I miss being patient with my own self. Used to be cool when I'd mess up. Now I try to be perfect because I'm teaching someone to live. That pressure is wild. Also I cry at commercials now which never happened before. Dad bod comes with dad emotions apparently.
Being patient with yourself is such an underrated skill. Kids highlight every place where you're being hard on yourself. It's like they're mirrors.
I used to think fatherhood would make me more patient overall but it's the opposite. I'm way less patient with myself now because I'm running on fumes half the time.
The freedom thing is interesting because you trade it for something but it's not what you expect. What made you realize the patience thing specifically?
This hits deep. I thought I'd crave alone time and silence. Turns out I just crave being patient with myself while also being patient with them. It's exhausting in a different way.
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This resonates more than I want to admit. The freedom was supposed to be the hardest thing to give up but it's actually the pressure to be perfect that gets you.