Do you feel like you sacrificed your personality for your wife, family, career?

I had a good conversation with an old friend last night, drawing up some memories from high school and college. I used to be fun. With friends. Personal interests. A social life.

I was into horror movies, rock and metal music, and video games. I don’t really do any of them anymore.

Sometimes I feel like I just work or take care of shite around the house. I work, spend quality time with the kids, and try to have sex with my wife. It’s not a bad life, but I wonder about my own personal identity.

My wife doesn’t like horror movies, rock or metal music, or video games. Slowly over the years, I stopped putting any effort into them. Nowadays, even if I wanted to, I don’t have the time to reignite my old interests. I have to wake up at 5am to survive, which admittedly is because of my intent to stay healthy and workout before work.

Even on the weekends, I can’t really sleep past 5am. If I did, my dog would wake me up soon after because she’s used to getting up then.

Being asleep by 10pm is a must. My kids go to bed at 8:30pm, so there’s little time for anything outside of hanging out with the wife and getting ready for bed.

It’s weird. I feel like I’m not really me any more.

Anyone else feel this way? Is it just normal for becoming the middle aged dad persona?

I guess I can see how middle aged dudes stop giving a frick and go do things on their own. My dad’s like that. For a few decades now he goes to the movies by himself or to concerts by himself. I guess that’ll be me in the future.