Went from solo traveler to dad of three in 4 years

3w ago1 min read

I used to take trips to Southeast Asia on a whim. Just book a flight and figure it out. Now I'm planning a trip to the beach 3 hours away and it requires a spreadsheet and like 6 different bags. My buddies still text about their latest adventures and part of me misses that freedom like crazy. But then my oldest asked me to build a fort yesterday and we spent 3 hours just laughing in there and honestly that hit different than any sunset I saw in Thailand. Life's so different now but different doesn't mean worse, you know?

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Comments(8)

JJake M.Regular2w ago

Man that's a big change. I went from pretty spontaneous to having to plan everything months ahead once the kids came. Do you miss it or are you cool with the new chapter?

RRyan M.Regular3w ago

Southeast Asia trips to kids logistics is a journey. But honestly there's something cool about experiencing travel through their eyes now instead of just chasing experiences for yourself.

MManuelRegular3w ago

I feel you on the before and after. Solo backpacking trips feel like a different lifetime. But honestly? Watching my kids discover new places is way better than going alone. Different kind of fulfilling.

GGarrett M.New Dad3w ago

That's quite a shift. Going from solo adventure mode to coordinating three kids is wild. How are you handling the planning overload?

TTravisRegular3w ago

The planning is insane with three but once you get used to it there's something satisfying about pulling off a family trip. Plus the memories hit different now.

SSteveRegular3w ago

Southeast Asia to three kids in four years is wild. I went from one to two and thought that was a shock. Do you ever get that itch to just take off, or has fatherhood completely rewired your brain on travel?

RRyan M.Regular3w ago

Man, this hits different. I remember being able to just disappear for weeks. Now I'm planning family vacations 6 months out and checking school calendars. The spontaneity is gone but honestly the memories we're making hit different. How are you handling it mentally?

JJake M.Regular3w ago

The planning thing gets easier actually. By kid three I had spreadsheets for everything lol. But yeah, the spontaneity is a real loss. You find new kinds of adventure though - like figuring out how to keep three kids entertained on a road trip.