My Silent Battles as a New Dad
How I am navigating the overwhelming weight of new fatherhood
The silence is deafening. Since the day our baby arrived, the world has shifted entirely, and somehow, I’m the invisible one in this new landscape. People flood our home with love and support for my wife and our little girl, showering them with affection, advice, and encouragement.
I watch, trying to smile through the weariness, nodding along to the constant chorus of, “How’s the baby doing? How’s Belinda holding up?” But no one ever asks, “How are you doing?”
The truth? I’m not sure I know. I’m crumbling, unsteady on this rocky path of fatherhood and new parenthood. Each day feels like wading through thick mud, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me. My nights blend into days; I’ve lost track of time, of myself.
I used to know who I was. Now, I feel like a shadow of that person — a shell, worn down and empty. I walk through my life feeling hollow, barely able to keep myself upright, let alone be the partner and father I’m supposed to be.
At work, I am no longer the person people can count on. Mistakes, missed details, moments of blanking out — they’re my new normal. I catch myself zoning out in meetings, trying to hide the heavy rings under my eyes, pretending that I’m still…
