Being a Dad, Husband, and an Employee Can be Tough.
Being a Dad, Husband, and an Employee can be Tough
A few weeks ago I downloaded Tik Tok to help pass the time while I was sitting and waiting for my work computer to load, or just whenever I really had nothing going on. Now if you aren’t familiar with Tik Tok, it is an app that lets you record about a one-minute video of basically whatever you want. You could add music to it, a duet with other Tik Tokers, and so much more. But there was one video in particular that really hit me right in the feels, and that is what inspired this post. The name of the Tik Tokker is @samthedad and the video he posted was about the struggles of being a dad and husband. He says at times he’s up in the middle of the night crying because being a father and provider can be hard at times. And how he wants to give his family everything.
And that got me thinking about the mental health of dads, husbands, and mothers. Being a parent is stressful, and being a parent with a newborn can be super stressful at times. The current state of affairs is adding even more stress to everyone. My wife for example just moved to America in late 2019, and then we found out we were pregnant. Then something no one saw coming, COVID, which stopped all of our plans of going back to visit Germany for Christmas that year. And then it just kept getting worse, and one baby and one year later, Bea is still not available to visit home. And on top of that Jameson has not been able to meet all of his grandparents, because of the lockdown. Homesickness has really been setting in for her, and it sucks that I can’t do anything about it. I wish I could put her and Jameson on a plane, but unfortunately, it’s just not able to happen yet.
I know that we are in a pandemic, and mental health is more important than ever before. Some of us are separated from our families and friends. Tons of people are out of work, and struggling to pay their bills, feed their families, and have the quality of life they may be accused too. And the toll this takes on our health is terrible. Everyone is different and I’m not going to say you should do this or that, but I will make a few suggestions.
The first suggestion is to finish any projects you have going on around the house. I know I have so many, I forget what I’m working on sometimes. But finishing a project will give you a sense of accomplishment. Even if it’s just for a second, that sense of accomplishment will give you a little rush of endorphins.
Another thing that I enjoy, though it can sometimes cause more stress, is work on my car. Whether if it’s doing maintenance, cleaning it out, or washing it. For me, it relaxes me, and it’s another thing checked off my list of things to get done.
My wife, on the other hand, likes to read a book or catch up on Master Chef to help relieve some stress. Being home with Jameson all day, with his screaming and only napping when someone is with him, can take its toll on someone. And reading a book or watching Master Chef can take her away from the day-to-day stresses, even if it’s just for 10-30 mins.
And the last suggestion I have is to just try and relax, maybe have a quick nap if possible. It may not fix whatever it is that is causing stress, but you will be able to come back with a fresh mind and a hopeful attitude. And who knows maybe a new line of thought, so whatever it is that is causing the stress, you will have the solution to fix it.
If the stress of this new Covid world is causing you so much stress you aren’t sure you can handle it anymore, please feel free to reach out to a loved one, or even me. I will be more than happy to just listen judgement free. Also know that if you do need more help and feel like the weight of the world is falling on you here are a few numbers you can call or text to get whatever help it is you need.
Suicide Prevention Line (800)273-8255
Crisis Text Line – Text Home to 741741
Or if you are into cars, one of my friends created a no-judgement car community, focused on friends, family, and community to help with any situation someone may be going through.
