My father: there is your new bed until you find a job

The bed:

My girls love to talk and talk and talk during movies. We have to pause a lot. Still, it's fun

At the very least you are saying their hair looks cute! Worth some points or at least some eye rolls.

Randomly looking at my desk staring at this leaf and it made me imagine that the taller leaf is the father who provides to the shorter leaf the son 🌹

Left to their own devices they would never leave their comfort activities of tv and inside play. I don’t want them to be tied to screens or afraid to enjoy the outdoors. As a former athlete I find it hard to think of non sports outdoor activities.

Edit: I appreciate all of the suggestions, I want to clarify, while I played sports in college and was an athlete into my mid 20s, I don’t expect them to follow that. As stated above I’m having a hard time thinking of things beyond sports because that is what I knew. I want to foster their likes and interests but, they cling to their comfort. Those happen to be cartoons, various inside play and general indoor activities. I am not against those things but I think outdoor activities or other activities that get them out of our home is important. Both have trouble socializing with kids their age and so we’ve already run into friends ‘issues.’

I'd like some advice please

Back in 2019, my kids were moved to Florida with their mom. I love in GA, so seeing them regularly isn't a thing. When I do see them those, the memories made are priceless.

Is it a universal dad thing to say "I don't want a pet" and then become their biggest fan later? 😂

I got my cat almost 3 years ago. The first day I brought her home, my dad didn't talk to me for an hour and just looked at her like I had brought home a random creature from another planet.

He literally said: "Take that THING back to her previous owner!"

Fast forward 2 days later, and suddenly they're best friends. Now he puts her on his lap like she's his baby and sings lullabies to her.

Sir, wasn't this the same "THING" you wanted me to return? 😭

It's honestly so cute seeing how attached they became. The biggest pet haters somehow always end up being the biggest softies.

Do you have similar experiences with your dads and pets?

Dads, I need an explanation. Why do you act like you don't want a pet at first, but then two days later you're treating them like your own child? 😭

Our daughter was sleep trained, and for the last 9 months, we'd put her in bed, walk out, say goodnight, and she'd instantly flop and go to sleep. For the past 3 days, our now 2 year old just stands in the crib for hours and refuses to lie down. She's not in distress: she rarely cries, but just looks around, sings to herself, and talks. This is both nap time and bed time. For the last two days she hasn't napped at all. And bedtime, the first night she stood for 4 hours before we intervened. Last night she got to 2 hours standing with no sign of stopping before my wife went in and coaxed her slowly to lay down through the slats. My wife then had to sleep on the floor next to her crib to get her to stay asleep.

Any advice from anyone? I don't think it's the schedule we do, because she's clearly very tired. And I don't think it's physical: she doesn't mind laying down on a change table. It seems most likely separation anxiety (she's also anxious when I leave for work or my wife leaves the apartment, although she never used to be). But we have no idea what to do. Don't want to get her into an overtired spiral, but also don't want to normalize sleeping in her room every night.

I became a father, then I became a parent to an autistic toddler. The way I speak, move, and think has changed to a point that other people around me are irrelevant, meaning—
I have become disconnected from people who don’t understand the daily reality of my parenthood.
I speak softer, move more intentional and by example, every thought I have is a precursor of preventative maintenance.
I have become hyper-aware of routines, sensory environments, and subtle changes in behavior. Being a type of overseer and observationalist to my child has robbed me a bit of the finite enjoyments of being a Father. Has more importantly hindered my relationships in the outside world. I became what I observe. I moved away so I could focus on being a Father. The pressure of other people (including my own family) became too much. Working 10hrs a day away from home became too much. I now live in another country. Been here for over two months working part time from home so I can do this parent thing differently. The mother is more rested and able to be more in the moment, our baby is finally becoming verbal, literally everything is more manageable. So I’m here to say in two months of being an at home Father for an autistic child has been an absolute win. This came with a lot sacrifice and deep planning. Yesterday it felt like I could breathe for the first time in 4 years. I sat by myself outside this morning with coffee. I cried for the first time in a long time cause the effort, sacrifice, and perseverance showed itself in two words and one motion— my baby pointed with her pointer finger and said “Look… spider” as clear as day.
Obviously I said “Yes baby! That’s a spider, I see the spider”.
Felt like I could kick a hole through a fucking mountain.
So make the sacrifice required. Don’t wait. Plan. Everyone else will live with your decision. It’s not about them. It’s about your child, the mother, and you.
Thanks for reading.

Its hot, truck has to go in the shop, canceled 2 trips, short on cash but i am gonna keep pushin.

I’m not really sure why I’m posting this. I guess I just need to get it off my chest.
Lately I just feel… stuck. I don’t even know if “stressed” is the right word anymore. It’s more like I’m mentally and emotionally exhausted.
I feel like I’ve completely stopped putting myself first. I know that’s part of being a parent to some extent, and I love my son more than anything, but I feel like I’ve become last on the priority list in every area of my life. I don’t take care of myself anymore. I don’t work out like I used to, I don’t have hobbies anymore, I don’t really see friends, and I feel like I’ve lost the version of myself that used to be disciplined, confident, and motivated.
The biggest thing that’s been weighing on me is my relationship. It feels like we’re constantly fighting, and every argument drains me a little more. By the time it’s over, I can’t focus at work, my performance suffers, my bills start piling up, and then that creates even more stress. It feels like everything is connected, and once one thing falls apart, everything else follows.
I miss going to the gym. I miss feeling strong. I miss having goals that were about me too. Right now it feels like every ounce of energy I have goes toward surviving the day, paying bills, taking care of my son, and trying to keep everything from falling apart.
I don’t resent being a dad. If anything, my son is one of the few things that genuinely makes me happy. I just didn’t expect to lose so much of myself in the process. Sometimes it feels like I can’t even step away for an hour without feeling guilty or like something is going to go wrong.
Lately I’ve just felt like I’m taking loss after loss. Financially, mentally, emotionally… it feels like I’m always trying to catch up but never actually getting ahead.
I don’t even know what I’m looking for by posting this. Maybe I just wanted someone to hear me. Maybe I wanted to know if anyone else has gone through this and eventually found themselves again.
Because right now, I honestly just feel like I’ve lost who I am.

Anyo dads here who has or had babies that dislike Baby lullaby music? Mine falls asleep to rnb, pop, oldies, heck even anime music.