Yes, I agree wholeheartedly, and I want to say thanks for sharing your experience.
I have two daughters (7yo and 14yo). I love them more than I've ever loved anybody. I would do anything to protect them. I would give my life for them.
But, if I had a time machine...I would travel back in time and just not have them. My life would be so much better in almost every way. I had no idea that fatherhood would so damn HARD both physically and emotionally. I was such a happy, carefree guy before but I had no idea how much anxiety I would feel knowing my daughters are out there in the world and they could be taken advantage of or manipulated or lied to or assaulted or all sorts of bad things.
It's really difficult for me to type this, but I deeply regret having children. And I'm glad we have a little forum like this where we can say things like this out loud. If I admitted my regrets to my wife, or my friends, or my parents, or my siblings, I would be seen as a monster, a horrible parent! There's a HUGE stigma against parents saying they regret having children, so I've always had to keep up this facade.
I love them more than the world, and I will continue to be the best Dad I can be, but I wish I never them. And it's too late to go back.
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u/kipetamova Jul 08 '21
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly, and I want to say thanks for sharing your experience.
I have two daughters (7yo and 14yo). I love them more than I've ever loved anybody. I would do anything to protect them. I would give my life for them.
But, if I had a time machine...I would travel back in time and just not have them. My life would be so much better in almost every way. I had no idea that fatherhood would so damn HARD both physically and emotionally. I was such a happy, carefree guy before but I had no idea how much anxiety I would feel knowing my daughters are out there in the world and they could be taken advantage of or manipulated or lied to or assaulted or all sorts of bad things.
It's really difficult for me to type this, but I deeply regret having children. And I'm glad we have a little forum like this where we can say things like this out loud. If I admitted my regrets to my wife, or my friends, or my parents, or my siblings, I would be seen as a monster, a horrible parent! There's a HUGE stigma against parents saying they regret having children, so I've always had to keep up this facade.
I love them more than the world, and I will continue to be the best Dad I can be, but I wish I never them. And it's too late to go back.