This might sound weird but I feel really lonely sometimes. I'm with my kids all day, my wife works, and we're together in the evenings but I still feel this emptiness. I think it's because I don't have anyone I can really talk to about how hard this is. My buddies without kids don't get it and I don't want to dump on my wife after she's worked all day. Anyone else experience this?
Man, I get this. You can be around people all day and still feel disconnected, especially when you're in caregiver mode the whole time. Those evenings with your wife might help if you two can carve out some real talk time, even just 10 minutes.
That's not weird at all. Being the primary with the kids is isolating sometimes even when you're never physically alone. Have you thought about connecting with other stay-at-home dads, even just online? Helps knowing you're not the only one feeling this way.
Two kids here and I get it completely. My wife works too and I'm juggling school schedules and activities all week. By the time she gets home I'm just exhausted and it's hard to connect. The isolation part is real even when you're never actually alone.
This hits different. I'm with my three kids constantly but I barely have an adult conversation some days. Started playing pickup basketball twice a week just to be around other people and talk about something other than what's for dinner.
That's not weird at all. Being around people all day doesn't mean you're connected to anyone. You need adult conversations and your own space sometimes. Can you get out for even an hour a week without the kids? That might help.
Not weird at all, man. I feel this hard. You're around people all day but none of them can really talk to you about adult stuff. It's a different kind of lonely. Have you thought about finding a dad group or something? Even just online helps.
I felt this so hard in my first year of parenting. For me it was that I was so focused on being present for my kid that I stopped being present for myself. Started going on solo hikes and it made a huge difference in how I felt.
Honestly I'd talk to someone professional about this if you haven't already. The loneliness combined with being a sole caregiver during the day can get dark fast. There's no shame in it.
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You might need some adult friends more than you realize. Do you have people you can text or grab coffee with? Parenting can be isolating even when you're never alone. That's worth taking seriously.