Loneliness is real even when you're surrounded by family | DadHQ

Loneliness is real even when you're surrounded by family

3d ago1 min read

I love my kids and my wife but I feel like I lost all my friends when we had kids. Everyone's either still single doing their thing or they live far away now. My wife is great but I need male friendships and I don't know how to build those as an adult. Work friends don't really count. Joined a dad group at the rec center but it feels weird at first. Just wondering if this feeling goes away or if I need to be more intentional about staying connected.

6 comments150 views

Comments(6)

MMarcusNew Dad2d ago

I've definitely felt this. It's weird because everyone says oh you have kids now your kids are your friends and that's just not how human connection works. Your wife and kids are amazing but they're not replacing your buddies.

JJosh M.New Dad2d ago

Real talk. I made this a priority after it happened to me. Started a dad group, literally just dudes getting together once a month. Changed my whole mental health situation. Takes work to stay connected as adults when you have kids.

JJamal W.Regular3d ago

Man I feel this. With the twins it's like life shifted overnight and suddenly you're not in the same headspace as your single friends anymore. Have you tried connecting with other dads around here? Sometimes that's where the real friendships happen now.

HHenry M.Regular3d ago

This hits hard man. I've got three kids and honestly most of my buddies from before are still doing their own thing. What's helped me is finding other dads in the neighborhood or through the kids' activities - different crowd but they get it.

LLucas M.Regular3d ago

This hits hard. Everyone just accepts it like it's normal to lose your entire friend group when you become a dad. I'm trying to rebuild mine but it takes effort and time we don't have. Doesn't make it any less important though.

PPedroRegular2d ago

Yeah man, this is the real talk nobody wants to admit. You can be completely happy in your family and still feel isolated because you lost that peer group. It's like two totally different needs and one doesn't cancel out the other.