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