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Pete Smyth's avatar

I really love this space, and genuine love for you Kevin for being so open and vulnerable in such a candid way.

I felt like I was sleepwalking through parenthood, expecting more but not knowing how to feel more enthusiasm. That it would come in time, but actually left unattended it got deeper and more like shovelling glue. Always tired, impatient, guilty, shameful and empty.

Missing my old life and friends terribly.

Absolutely there were huge gains from being a dad but my mental health was in the bin so I couldn’t value any of them long term.

Also, not a qualified therapist, but I have done a lot of research and deep diving my own mental health journey. All stemmed from my own childhood, the lack of emotional support, the guilt, shame, humiliation of traumatised parents who didn’t have a clue or the will to change how they themselves were parented. Ultimately I just felt like a worthless, loveless piece of shit. My first thoughts upon being given our son Frank for the skin to skin cuddle was “I hope he’s not disappointed.” I don’t know how anyone else felt, but looking back now that’s an awful thought to have in what’s meant to be the greatest moment of any man’s life.

And that is not the perspective to parent your children from.

So I got into the ‘where is this coming from?’ and to begin loving and parenting myself in a way I’d never been shown. Rather than feeling ashamed of having mental health difficulties, age old generational shutting up and shutting down just made people sad sick and lonely,

I invested time and energy in myself and talking openly about it. It did and still does involve getting up before anyone else, (not easy when sleep deprived) there are still days I can’t be arsed so I stay in the warm bed and rest. I just feel less guilty about that now too.

journaling my thoughts really helped. I ended up filling 10 A5 notebooks that sit unread by anyone in a drawer.

Exercise is key, movement of any sort, especially outdoors, walking in forests, trees are incredible for a sense of peace and lowering blood pressure. Connection to others, fellow dads at school, running groups, yoga sessions, music, walking clubs, real time relationships as well as online interactions like this.

Volunteering with a dads local support group got me the most life affirming real time relationships with people I would never have connected with. And ultimately to find Kevin and this group. We’ve since climbed Snowdon and Scafel Pike, done a Triathlon and walked around the lakes.

I’m looking at setting up mens and boys back to the wild nature therapy sessions, using my experiences and observations to make mental health support, real, accessible and more targeted towards mens instincts when wanting to heal. We need to feel supported and enabled to find our own strength and take back control.

If anyone is new to fatherhood and struggling and feeling isolated, I’m in Liverpool, so if any dads are not too far away, can meet up for a brew or walk/jog.

Cheers

Pete

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James B's avatar

I really needed this exact newsletter today. Thanks Kevin, and all the other dads

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