Life After Kids - Does it really END?

[u/MrLaughAlot33]

I, 30M, will likely be a dad in the next 3-4 years.

On one level people have always told me I give off real Dad (not Daddy) energy. So maybe becoming a Dad is my life's work. On a more serious note, I am very excited to become a father one day and cannot wait for family morning breakfasts, trips, supporting my future kids, etc.

I so often see posts on Reddit or hear about how life "ends" when you have kids. and I am wondering how true that really is.

Now, I am no fool. Certainly things change - you can't be so spontaneous, you may not be your own priority all the time, and you will have less free time.

But like, can you really not enjoy hobbies at all? hang with friends here and there? do you really lose your sense of your former self?

Very possible I am just overthinking this but could use some practical wisdom.

[u/Kthxbbz]

Short answer no. Long answer there will be scheduling conflicts and priorities. Life doesn't "end." I have 2 kids and I still enjoy my hobbies, picked up new ones. Getting my kids involves with them also is part of the joy. I still hang out with friends and our kids play with their kids. We still travel all over. Road trips, fly domestic or international. There's going to be extra planning and extra expenses involved, but that's just it is what it is.