I Used to Game at 5:30 AM. Now I Watch Monster Trucks

When people would tell me life changes when you have kids I always thought “Ya, no shit.” It’s crazy though that yes there are major changes that happen day one. There are others though you may not realize how gradually they happen. There is no dramatic moment where someone officially announces that your old routines are gone. Before you know it, your mornings, holidays, and even your Friday nights look completely different than they did before. When I really stopped and thought about it, it felt almost unbelievable how much had changed without me even noticing. When did I concede power to these little humans? 

Early Mornings

I have always been a morning person. Waking up at 5:30 AM has never felt painful to me. I actually love it. It’s always been my time and honestly the coffee tastes better. That hour or two before everyone else wakes up belonged to me. I would make coffee, read, then play a video game. It gave me time and space to decompress before the day’s bullshit started.

Well, my son also enjoys waking up at 5:30 AM. Apparently he also needs time and space to decompress before his day’s bullshit starts.

At first, I did not think much of it, I figured it was a phase. It wasn’t. He wakes up almost like he has somewhere important to be. He sits down to drink a cup of warm milk while I drink my coffee. Within twenty minutes, he asks to watch TV. The same TV that I am playing video games on. He wants monster trucks. Loud engines and bright flashing colors filling the living room before the damn sun comes up. So now my early morning gaming hour has disappeared. I can’t remember when I conceded and gave it up. It just slowly turned into me sitting next to him on the couch while we watch Monster Trucks. 

If someone had told me years ago that my peaceful 5:30 AM gaming time would become monster truck viewing time, I probably would have laughed. Now it feels completely normal. That is the crazy part about how much life changes with kids. It feels natural. It feels like the obvious choice. And you barely notice it happening until you stop and think about it.

Valentine’s Day with Kids

Valentine’s Day is another example of how priorities shift. Before children, Valentine’s Day meant fancy dinners, gifts, maybe even a hotel stay or a quick getaway. I remember calling restaurants a week or two ahead trying to get on the reservation list. 

Now Valentine’s Day looks very different. This year we booked a hotel, not for us, but because our kids absolutely love hotels. Every time we drive by one my daughter or son will ask to stay. My wife surprised them by decorating the hotel room before they walked in. She filled it with balloons and small decorations, turning it into a celebration just for them. When we opened the door they ran in like they had just been handed the best gift ever. Valentine’s Day was no longer just about us. It was about creating memories as a family.

Holidays in general shift like this when you become parents. Christmas morning becomes about making sure they feel the holiday magic. Birthdays become annoying big ass productions. You realize that the joy you get from watching them experience something special outweighs the adult-centered celebrations…well most of the time.

Friday Nights

We have always eaten out on Fridays and had a routine. My wife would say she did not care what we ate, and I would suggest five or six places. Somehow, every suggestion would get vetoed, even though she clearly did not care. It was something I could count on at the end of a long week.

Now Friday nights revolve around what our daughter wants to eat. She usually suggests McDonald’s, and that is it. There is no debate and no veto power. There are no backup options.

These small family routines become anchors. They give kids something predictable in a world that is changing around them. I have written a lot of these now but I know one of my blogs was about how scary it must be for kids living in a world they have no control over. As a parent I now see how much they need habits and rituals. It gives them comfort and a small imaginary sense of control. 

*Okay, so while proofreading this, I went and looked it up and couldn't find any past blogs like that. Looks like I now have my next topic. What’s funny is my spelling and grammar is so bad my wife has asked me several times if I even proofread these. Yes, I do actually. Thank you very much.

Priorities Change

When you really think about how much life changes with kids, it becomes clear that we just like to pretend we have control. Mornings revolve around someone else’s schedule. Your holidays revolve around someone else’s joy. Your free time becomes their time. 

You begin to measure success differently. It is no longer about how productive your morning was or how fancy your plans look. It is about making sure you are connected with these little humans. It is about whether your kids feel seen and safe and excited to be around you. It feels like growth and I am okay with that, most of the time.

It's Messier. It's Louder. But it's Real.

This is life, and it is good. The monster truck mornings, the decorated hotel rooms, the predictable McDonald’s Fridays are not downgrades to me. It is easy to romanticize the freedom and spontaneousness of life before kids. It is tempting to remember uninterrupted mornings and adult conversations that lasted as long as you wanted. Yes, I miss those days sometimes, we all do, but things now feel heavier in a good way. A quiet cup of coffee alone used to feel peaceful. Now a loud ass breakfast with my kids fighting and one telling me about a dream they had somehow feels peaceful. It's messier. It's louder. But it's real.

One day my son will not wake up at 5:30 AM to sit next to me. One day my daughter will not automatically choose McDonald’s for Friday night. One day Valentine’s Day might return to candlelight dinners and quiet hotel rooms. When that happens, I know I will miss these exact moments that currently feel loud as hell or sometimes boring. The chaos that feels constant right now will be gone. I will get my old routines back and then miss these days.

Thank You

If you are in this stage right now missing your old routines and freedom, just know you are not alone. Every parent feels and thinks about it. Just remember these times will be over before you know it and you will want them back.

Thank you for reading. If this resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need the reminder. This space has grown because of your support. If you ever want to reach out directly, email me at savepointdad@gmail.com. If you haven't you can also follow along on Instagram @Savepointdad.

I appreciate you being here more than you know.