Adjusting to a life from 100% Dad to 100% Parent
One of the things that hit me was how I've moved from the role of a 'father' to a 'parent' with my children. When the children are with me - I realize that I'm with them 100% and then I need to switch myself off completely as a parent when they are with their mom. Contrast this to being a 100% father all the time - I now find myself teetering tottering as a parent at lightening speed and putting the brakes on completely. Trying to cope with that transition is hard - as I'm constantly transitioning (100% parent, 0% parent, 100% parent, 0% parent, etc.) versus trying to keep myself at a steady improvement as a father (all the time 100% of the time). I try to pre-plan life with them whilst they are not with me - that does pose its own challenges as I work full-time - and it's generally hard not to miss them. Here are a few things I try and do while I don't have the children with me (and if anybody can advise me more that would be great!): ...