How life changed since becoming a dad. Identity shifts, things you miss, things you gained, the transformation of fatherhood.
259 threads
So I quit my job in 2022 making decent money doing server maintenance at 2am. Wife wanted to stay in her career and someone needed to be home with the kids. I thought I'd hate it b
A year ago I couldn't walk up stairs without getting winded. Got diagnosed with prediabetes and something clicked. Started slow, just walking then jogging a little bit. Found a loc
Was a single guy living kind of carelessly for years. Met my girlfriend, things got serious, and now I'm helping raise her two kids. I went from doing whatever I wanted to having a
Most of my life before I quit drinking I was the party guy. We'd get together, drink, that was the whole hangout. After I stopped drinking I realized those guys weren't really my f
Never thought I'd be the guy who runs. Used to spend weekends gaming and eating takeout. Had the talk with my doc about my weight and it scared me straight. Started with just walki
I was that guy. Always grinding, always on my phone during dinner, missed my daughter's soccer games. Had a health scare last year that made me rethink everything. Negotiated a rem
Was living paycheck to paycheck for years, always stressed about money. Started tracking every dollar and it was eye opening how much I wasted. Cut a lot of stuff, sold things I di
Two years sober today. Used to stay up late drinking, sleep till 10am, feel like garbage. Started hitting AA meetings and it changed everything. Now I'm up at 5:30 doing a workout
Started at 285, now sitting at 200. Took me two years of actually committing instead of just talking about it. My kids used to be embarrassed when I'd try to play with them at the
Been working nights for 8 years at the factory. Last month I finally got moved to day shift and honestly it's wild. I used to sleep all day, miss breakfast with the kids, see them
Got divorced 4 years ago, spent 2 years as the every-other-weekend guy. Missed a lot of the daily stuff with my two kids. Just married my girlfriend last year and her three kids ar
Two years ago I was paycheck to paycheck, couldn't handle a car repair without stress. Got a promotion, cut back on stupid spending, and now I actually have a real emergency fund.
Was a heavy drinker before, not gonna lie about it. Marriage was falling apart, missed out on so much with my kids, was basically checked out mentally even when I was home. Started
Three years ago I was overweight, winded walking up stairs, and basically dying young. Something clicked after my daughter said 'dad you're slow'. Started running with this Couch t
Made the jump last year. Wife's job pays better and I was burning out in corporate anyway. Biggest transition has been letting go of my identity being tied to my job title. First f
Been working since I was 22, retired 6 months ago at 55 with enough saved up. The identity shift has been weird. I was my job, you know? Software engineer, that's what I told peopl
2 years sober today. I was a functional alcoholic for probably 15 years without realizing how bad it was. Every night a beer or three, weekends worse. My son asked me to come to hi
So I quit my job at the warehouse about 8 months ago and honestly I don't recognize myself anymore. I was grinding 10pm to 6am for like 7 years, sleeping during the day, barely see
This is kind of personal but I need to share it. In my early 40s I was pushing 320 pounds, couldn't play catch with my sons without getting winded, had sleep apnea, the whole deal.
I used to be the guy who would just pick up and go whenever. Didn't need much, didn't need anyone. Then kids happened and suddenly I had two little humans depending on me for every