I've been having really bad anxiety lately about whether I'm being a good enough dad. My oldest had a rough day at school and I snapped at him instead of being supportive, and now I'm spiraling thinking I'm screwing him up. I know logically that one bad moment doesn't define everything but my brain won't let it go. Anyone else deal with this? How do you get past the guilt?
Four kids and I still have moments where I lose it over something small. The fact that you're anxious about it means you care. Just apologize to your son and move forward. That's what parenting is.
Rough days happen and so do bad reactions. I've got two kids in different schools and some days I'm barely holding it together between pickups and homework. One moment doesn't define you as a dad.
Don't be hard on yourself, man. We all snap sometimes. Bath time here is actually my favorite part of the day because it's when I get reset and remember why I'm doing this. Tomorrow's a new day with your oldest.
That anxiety hits different when you're a dad. But here's the thing - the fact that you're worried about it means you're already doing the work. The good dads are always the ones questioning themselves.
I get this. Some nights I lie awake thinking about stuff I said or didn't say that day. What helps me is remembering my own dad wasn't perfect and I still turned out alright. Your kids will remember you showed up.
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Talk to someone about it if you haven't already. My doc recommended a therapist a couple years back and it changed everything for me. No shame in getting some help with the mental stuff.
What happened with your oldest? Sometimes it helps to actually talk through the specific thing instead of just the general anxiety.