Friendships After Kids, Discipline, and You're Not Doing As Bad As You Think

Friendships After Kids, Discipline, and You're Not Doing As Bad As You Think

38:27 Mar 10, 2026
About this episode
Pre-Order a Signed Copy of The Tired Dad Pre-Order The Tired Dad 00:00 - Welcome and episode overview 00:18 - How parenting can isolate social life 01:10 - The impact of sobriety and limited social opportunities 02:09 - Longing for female friendship and deep connection 03:07 - Recalling pre-parenthood friendships and their depth 03:45 - Winter isolation and planning spontaneous meetups 04:21 - The importance of informal hangouts and neighborhood bonds 04:52 - Building new friendships without a long shared history 05:03 - Challenges of starting over socially in adulthood 06:44 - Men’s struggle with connection, interests, and shared hobbies 07:43 - Common male pursuits: exercise, golf, food, and hunting 08:50 - The cultural differences in interests and hobbies 09:04 - Parenting phase differences and social opportunities with young children 10:24 - Male loneliness epidemic and emotional health 11:51 - The effect of fulfilled childhood friendships on current loneliness 12:49 - Recognizing loneliness and seasonal depression 13:25 - The tendency to isolate and burnout management 14:28 - The need for planned adult outings and social planning 15:38 - Moving out of toddler survival mode into a more balanced phase 16:25 - The joys of children’s self-expression and growth 17:14 - Balancing sports, commitments, and family priorities 18:08 - Age and interest alignment in extracurricular activities 19:08 - Debating sports legends and cultural icons 20:46 - The emotional significance of witnessing childhood milestones 23:44 - Parenting moments, memories, and the fleeting nature of childhood routines 28:23 - Recognizing and celebrating children’s independence and growth 29:29 - The influence of children’s communication and emotional development 33:05 - Teaching children life skills like gratitude and boundaries 34:30 - The importance of modeling good behavior, not just compliance 35:42 - The emotional depth of parenting and self-regulation 36:47 - Continuing to show up and care despite fatigue 37:04 - Exciting announcement: pre-ordering the host’s book, special incentives, and a playlist 38:03 - Closing remarks and gratitude for listeners Subscribe to my weekly reflections on Substack Follow The Tired Dad on Instagram Follow The Tired Mom on Instagram Subscribe to
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