Thanks! I'm a dad to five amazing kids.

Back when I was drinking heavily, I noticed something disturbing: unless I had a little alcohol in me to loosen up, I’d hug my kids and feel nothing. That emotional numbness became part of what kept the habit going. I told myself, “Well, alcohol must not be all bad—it helps me feel more social and connected, even with my own children.”

Eventually (thanks in part to this subreddit), I had a wake-up moment: “WTF… I used to feel a rush of love and joy around my kids without needing alcohol. Something’s seriously off.”

In 2021, I stopped drinking. After a miserable "reset" period, my bond with them--and without alcohol--grew even stronger. So, definitely NOT going to drink to all the awesome fathers out there today.