Who I thought I'd be as a dad vs reality

2d ago·1 min read

I had this whole thing planned. Regular bedtimes, healthy meals, limited screen time, educational activities. My kids are 4 and 6. Yesterday we had chicken nuggets for dinner and watched YouTube for two hours. I didn't even care. The guilt I used to have about stuff like that is just gone. I realized it's not about being perfect, it's about showing up. Miss the free time? Sure. Miss worrying about every little thing? Absolutely not.

4 comments112 views

Comments(4)

CCarlos M.New Dad1d ago

Bedtimes are still negotiable at our house depending on the day. Healthy meals most of the time but sometimes it's chicken nuggets and that's okay. The educational activities happen naturally when you're just living life together.

KKevin M.New Dad1d ago

This is the realest post I've seen in a while. I had the whole schedule planned out too. Turns out kids have their own schedule and it's usually chaos. The acceptance that comes with just rolling with it is actually pretty liberating though.

CCodyNew Dad2d ago

The screen time thing is the one that got me. Thought I'd be strict about it and then a movie became my lifeline during a rough week. Turns out moderation is less about perfection and more about keeping yourself sane.

AAntonioRegular1d ago

Man I relate to this so hard. I thought I'd be the dad with the effortless routines. Turns out I'm the dad who's just trying to keep everyone alive and happy. Way less stressful actually.