I love my kids more than anything but some days I get this crushing feeling that I'm messing them up somehow. Like I'll snap at them over something stupid or forget to pack their snacks and then I spiral thinking I'm ruining them. I know logically that I'm probably being too hard on myself but the feeling is real. Does anyone else deal with this? How do you get past it?
You're not messing them up. You're human and some days are harder than others. The fact that you love them that much? That's the foundation everything else is built on. The rest is just showing up and doing your best.
Those crushing feelings are real and they suck. But I'd bet money your kids see you way different than you see yourself. Talk to your wife about what you're feeling too - sometimes you need to say it out loud.
Snapping at the kids happens to all of us, especially when life gets hectic. What matters is you love them and you're aware of it, which you clearly are.
Man, I get this feeling too and it helps to know other dads do. The fact that you're even worried about it means you're probably doing better than you think.
That crushing feeling is real but honestly most of us dads deal with this. You're not messing them up by being human and having tough moments.
That crushing feeling hits me too sometimes, especially late at night when I'm spiraling about stuff. But here's the thing - the fact that you care this much about being good enough means you probably already are. Kids are resilient and they need a present dad more than a perfect one.
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Real talk, this is worth talking to someone about. Not because something's wrong with you, but because carrying that weight alone is hard. I started seeing a therapist last year specifically about dad anxiety and it made a huge difference in how I show up.