Realized I was the angry dad and changed it
Short version: I was irritable, yelled at the kids over stupid stuff, took my work stress out on everyone. My daughter told my wife she was scared of me and that hit different. Sta
IIsaac T.149 views
26
How life changed since becoming a dad. Identity shifts, things you miss, things you gained, the transformation of fatherhood.
764 threads
Short version: I was irritable, yelled at the kids over stupid stuff, took my work stress out on everyone. My daughter told my wife she was scared of me and that hit different. Sta
Used to work 60 hour weeks and miss basically everything. Kids would show me drawings and I'd half listen while checking emails. Wife was running the house solo. Made the switch to
Was coaching baseball and traveling weekends for years. Thought it was my identity. Wife was doing everything else. Took a year to really sit with it and realized I was avoiding my
I was that guy sneaking beers in the garage, telling myself it wasn't a problem. My oldest asked me why I smelled funny one time and that destroyed me. Finally admitted I needed he
Before kids I thought I was important because of my job and my paycheck. I had this whole identity wrapped up in being the ambitious guy at the office. First kid came along and sud
I miss just being selfish with my time. Like on a Saturday I could decide at 8am to go to a movie, grab lunch, spend 6 hours at a coffee shop reading without planning it out. Now e
I was that guy who went out 4-5 nights a week. Did fantasy football, went to games, slept till noon on weekends. My apartment was basically a man cave. Now I'm waking up at 6am whe
Long story short I grew up super religious, became disillusioned as an adult, left my church 4 years ago. Now I have kids and I'm questioning everything about what I want to teach
I spent 15 years working a job I hated just to pay the bills. Finally took the leap and went back for my degree. Graduated last year and just got hired at a place I actually respec
Never thought I'd write this but here we are. I quit drinking 6 months ago and everything has changed. I actually want to be around my kids now instead of just tolerating them. I'm
I was the guy who defined himself by his career. CFO, long hours, lots of prestige. Then my wife got a job offer we couldn't refuse and we decided I'd stay home with the kids. Firs
Quit my six figure job last year to start my own thing and be more present with the family. Best decision but also weirdest adjustment. What I miss: the validation, the paychecks h
Five years ago I was 280 pounds, spent all my free time gaming and eating junk. My kids barely recognized me half the time because I was always checked out. Something just clicked
Few years back I was that bitter single dad, hated my ex, felt like life did me dirty. Just angry all the time. Met my now wife at a friend's BBQ and literally everything started t
Three years sober today. Not sharing this for pity but because I know there's guys here struggling. I was the dad who was checked out, or worse, checked in but drunk. My oldest ref
Used to spend 2 hours a day lifting, meal prepping, the whole deal. Had abs, could deadlift 400 lbs, felt like I had my life figured out. Then my twins were born 3 years ago and ev
Got sober when my oldest was born. Best decision I ever made but it's complicated. I miss being the fun dad who didn't overthink everything. I miss the confidence I had when I was
Wife made significantly more than me so when our first was born it just made financial sense. I was terrified about it. Who was I if I wasn't the provider? Spent the first 6 months
Spent 15 years grinding in finance. 60 hour weeks, traveled constantly, made great money, hated my life. Got divorced because of it. When my custody agreement started I realized I
Left at 18 thinking I'd never go back. Moved to the city, built a career, got married, had kids. Recently moved back because housing is crazy expensive and family support matters n