Goodbye Bachelor Lifestyle

Going out with your friends whenever you want, staying up as late as you want, and sneaking away for a weekend on your own are a lot of fun. Once you’ve got kids, it’s time for that lifestyle to end. Sure, you’ll have plenty more sleepless nights ahead, but they aren’t going to be with your friends doing what you want. Instead, you’ll wish that you were sleeping quietly through the night once again.

If you think that you’ll be able to balance living a bachelor life, and raising a family, then you need to stop and have a conversation with your partner. Sure, you may think it’s possible and you may be living that life, but your partner is likely taking the brunt of parenting as part of it. If they do say that they’re okay with it for now, then you’ve got a bit of luck, but don’t push it and be ready for that to change.

There’s likely a reason that you want to keep living the bachelor life. It’s easier and more fun, at least right now. You get to spend time with your friends and do whatever you want for the most part. However, you need to stop and realize that it’s time for that life to be over for the next many years. You’re now a father and you have a child that is your responsibility. It’s time to get over that life.

That doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy some of the things that you want to. Your life isn’t completely over - it’s just changing. You should absolutely enjoy some time to yourself from time to time - however it’s not going to be everyday for multiple hours. You need to discuss with your partner and figure out a schedule that will work for everyone. You’re now responsible for another human being.

If you’ve never watched your child alone, then you may not worry how much work it really is to take care of a child - it’s one of the hardest jobs there is. There are no breaks, and the person you’re with often doesn’t understand you and can’t tell you what they really want. It can be extremely frustrating and tiring. You’ll be ready to be done with it very quickly - it’s no wonder that your partner needs some help.

Taking care of yourself is also very important, so make sure that you do. We each take turns every other night with the kids in our home while the other gets some quiet time to themselves (usually about an hour). That doesn’t mean that we get to leave for the entire night every other day, but we are able to get to some of the things that we enjoy doing without being interrupted by the kids.

If you think that you’ll be able to keep up your bachelor life, and you continue to try to live it, don’t be surprised when you find yourself actually living that life again - your partner isn’t going to stick around with you forever if you’re unwilling to change and become an equal partner in raising your child. You’re not more important than your partner or child, so it’s time to stop acting like it.

It’s time to be a father and parent. Say goodbye to your bachelor days, and take on your responsibilities.