The Identity Crisis Nobody Tells You About
Got laid off after 15 years in tech sales. Spent two months actually present at home for the first time since my oldest was born. Started coaching my son's soccer team, helping my
How life changed since becoming a dad. Identity shifts, things you miss, things you gained, the transformation of fatherhood.
755 threads
Got laid off after 15 years in tech sales. Spent two months actually present at home for the first time since my oldest was born. Started coaching my son's soccer team, helping my
This time last year I was pushing 280 lbs and barely could walk up stairs without getting winded. My doctor basically said I needed to make changes or I was heading for serious pro
Spent 12 years at a soul-crushing corporate job. Long hours, toxic boss, always stressed. Switched to a smaller company doing similar work but way better environment. Take home les
Hit rock bottom when my kids didn't recognize me one morning. Got into AA right after that and honestly it saved my life. I'm not gonna pretend it was easy - first year was brutal.
Married my wife when her kids were 4 and 7. Biggest life change imaginable. Used to be pretty selfish with my time and now everything revolves around school schedules, soccer games
Used to have them every day. Now it's every other weekend and one night during the week. Still getting used to saying 'when I have the kids' instead of just 'my kids.' Whole routin
I was a manager. Meetings, conference calls, the whole thing. Defined myself by my job title and the paycheck. My wife made more anyway so we did the math and I tapped out. First
So I used to work nights for 8 years. Slept during the day, was awake all night. My whole identity was built around being that guy who could function on 4 hours of sleep and hang o
Three years sober now. Used to be the guy at every party, knew everyone, always had plans. Turns out a lot of those friendships were just drinking buddies. Lost most of them when I
Used to hit the gym 5-6 days a week, tracked macros, the whole thing. Was in the best shape of my life at 32. Then twins happened and I just stopped. No time, no energy, priorities
Before kids I was all about me. Spent money on stupid stuff, went out whenever, had a clean truck. Now I'm the guy clipping coupons and driving a minivan with Goldfish crumbs in th
Used to stay up til 2am playing video games and sleeping til 10. Now I'm up at 5 with the kids before anyone else. Honestly I don't even recognize myself but I wouldn't change it.
Had a six pack, worked out every single day, tracked macros obsessively. First two years of fatherhood? Forget it. Between no sleep and living on pizza and coffee I gained 40 pound
Used to be really out of shape, probably 80 pounds overweight. Couldn't keep up with my kids, got winded playing in the yard. Started working out about 2 years ago just because I w
I don't usually post personal stuff but figured someone here might need to hear this. I was drinking every night for years. Not the fun party kind, just numbing myself kind. My kid
Moved from a big city to a small town when my oldest was born. It was terrifying, gave up a career I worked 10 years to build. But my wife's family was here and we wanted to raise
My ex and I had a rough split 5 years ago. Lots of anger and fighting and our kids were caught in it. We were that couple where the kids had to relay messages between us. It got so
Before kids I was that guy constantly climbing the ladder, working 50+ hours a week, checking emails at dinner. Got promoted twice in 5 years but barely knew my kids. My wake up ca
Left my job as a marketing manager last year to stay home with the kids while my wife went back to work. Best and hardest decision I've ever made. I miss the paychecks and honestly
Two years post-divorce and I'm finally not depressed all the time. The first year was rough, man. Thought I'd lost my identity. Went from married guy with a house to apartment livi