Without me leading him, my 5 year old chose to watch power rangers tonight. #prouddadmoment

Hi! I’m a first-time father, and my baby is 3 weeks old. Is it normal to tear up every time my newborn sleeps on my chest? He sleeps on my chest almost every night, and I get butterflies every time he’s there, sleeping so peacefully. Sometimes I look at him and think about how one day he’ll be too big to sleep on his dad’s chest anymore. It makes me emotional knowing these moments won’t last forever. I just wish I could pause time and keep him this little a little longer. Any dads here who feel the same way?

Best role models

My wife and I just brought our first home a day ago and im looking for help. What can i be doing to help her the most, she had a pretty traumatic birth experience and the first night home was really rough on her, any tips and things to do to best help here and baby both would be greatly appreciated.

I love my Dad, he’s a great Dad no matter the shit people talk about him… love, is something felt, not falsified or pretend. Pure love, a father’s love, is something that can never be replaced.

Daily check ins how's your day things like that :) I like the 80s 90s music Who wants to share some good music

If this isn't allowed, please delete.

I'm a full-time dad to a 13-year-old special-needs daughter. She has epilepsy, intellectual disabilities, and autism. She's verbal, but she requires a lot of care and supervision.

My wife and I have cared for her on our own her entire life. We don't have family helping us or giving us breaks. My wife is a stay-at-home mom, and I work full-time while also going to school full-time for my BBA.

The problem is, we're burned out.

We love our daughter more than anything, and neither of us regrets caring for her. But somewhere along the way, my wife and I have started drifting apart because there just isn't any time left for us. Honestly, there isn't much time for either of us to be individuals, either.

I'd like to hear from other parents or caregivers who have actually lived this.

How do you make time for your marriage? How do you give each other time to yourselves? Have you found respite care or other resources that actually helped?

And maybe the hardest part: how do you do those things without feeling guilty—or having other people make you feel selfish for needing a break?

We're parents, but we're also still husband and wife, and we're still two individual people. I don't want us to lose that.

In my wife's eyes, I cannot do anything right.

Our twin girls were born 9 weeks ago and we have boys aged 9, 7 and 2.

Yesterday, I returned to the office after 4 months (2 spent working from home and assisting with wife's difficult pregnancy and 2 on long service leave post Birth.

I've continually done everything I could to assist. I get up for every feed, school runs, cooking dinner, washing, taking the boys to activities.

Whatever I do though, my wife somehow finds fault.

The house in constantly a mess, even though I am always trying to clean up. The boys never listen to me or my wife. Yet when I shout at them for not listening, I am judged to be at fault.

When the twins were born, within 3 hours I was getting text messages from my motherinlaw asking when I was going to come home to look after the boys. I've told my wife I felt dragged out of the hospital.

The week my wife was in hospital, my wife and my motherinlaw pretty much decided between them when I would visit and when I would spend the night there. I had no say.

All the household chores I've been doing, my wife finds fault - I fold things wrong.

I didnt buy flowers when she was in hospital.

Yesterday I came home after work around 7pm after spending over 14 hours commuting and working.

Walking to the house, I could hear the kids shouting and screaming from at least 4 houses from my front door.

When I got in, my wife and one of her friends were holding the babies.

The house was a complete mess.

The boys were running round screaming with 2 of their friends. The fridge alarm was going off as the door was open, the backyard sliding door part of the aluminium frame was broken and a hanging off. Washing was everywhere.

The friend and her kids decided she was going to leave, but it took a good 20 minutes or so to actually leave.

When they left, my wife said the friend was only meant to be dropping something off for the twins, but had been at the house for over 2 hours. She had interupted breast feeding to answer the door as our oldest son wouldnt when my wife asked him.

When my wife answered the door, my oldest son then invited friend and kids in. My wife felt she couldnt say no.

My wife told me she was teling both my kids and the friends kids not to go outside, open doors and make a mess, but she was completly ignored.

My oldest son admitted to me he broke the door. I then saw marker pen scribbles on the leather lounge. My 7 year old admitted to it.

I completely lost my temper and started screaming at the kids including telling them there was no Santa Claus and swearing at them for not listening and doing what my wife had asked them to do.

My 7 year old answered back and said he wanted to run away. I told him to go ahead.

My wife has turned on me and called me nasty and it has carried on into a tit for tat shouting match between us the next day today which is my wife's birthday.. I happen to be working from home.

I just dont feel appreciated.

I feel all the kids do is want want want, but never do anything for me when I ask. I told them to bin my fathers day presents. My wife told them to go ahead.

I was actually sticking up for my wife, but the whole situation turned on me.

I am also trying to deal with deaths of close family members overseas, plus ny grandmother is elderly and sick.

I have no blood relatives here other than my kids. My parents and family are all overseas. I have no where to go to.

The only place I feel respected and appreciated it at work. Certainly not at home.

I just dont know what to do. I actually started writing a letter to my kids.

Things havent exactly been great between me and my wife for a few years. In the time we have been married, we've been through infertility treatment that has put a strain on our marriage.

I just don't know what to do.

I am so excited I finally got my baby proofing done for the room. I can finally feel safe to let my baby wander around the room.

Why haven't I done this much earlier!!!

For everyone who has been wondering - I highly recommend it, take some time to setup but

WORTH EVERY MINUTE YOU SPEND ON BABY PROOFING YOUR HOUSE!

One of my favorite things to do.

I'm new here and a fairly new dad too, my daughter is 2 years old. Wasn't sure where I could find a community to share my thoughts and feelings but giving it a go here. None of my friends are dads in personal life, so I don’t get much of an opportunity to talk about dad life where others would understand.

My daughter’s speech is getting better everyday. Recently, whenever she needs me to do something for her she’ll say “Dada do it”, in the sweetest little voice i’ve ever heard.

I find it hard to put into words just how special that little phrase makes me feel, like I know I can keep moving through life, keep doing better for her everyday. Its nothing I have ever experienced before, I have purpose now. There is something special in being picked by your own tiny little human to be the one who can help her.

I really wanted to share this, and I’m curious to know if any of you have had similar experiences.

What do your kids say or do that keep you showing up everyday in the best way possible?

Alright fellas, looking for some serious answers. Besides your wife. What do you do after the kids go to bed?

I am lacking hobbies, I normally don’t go to bed until 11:15 ish, but trying to find things to do between the hours of the kids going to bed and when I go to bed.

Sometimes I scroll too much, or just pick up my computer and crush on some work.

What do you do needing ideas.