[My First Note] A father of two shares his journey of living as a "Modern Dad."

Nice to meet you.
First of all, thank you for finding this article.

I am a father of two, struggling daily to keep up with raising two overly energetic boys aged 8 and 3, while fully embracing housework and childcare as my own responsibilities.

In this note, I would like to share my personal experiences as a father under the account name "Modern Dad."

That sounds good, but it probably sounds a bit arrogant, doesn't it?
To be honest, I wasn't a "good father" from the start. Quite the opposite.
I started writing this because I thought that if I could share the trial and error I've gone through over the few years since I got married and had children, and the results of becoming a "good father," it might be helpful for other dads who are currently struggling with housework and childcare.

I failed as a father once

I have a past as a divorcee.

In my previous marriage, I didn't face up to housework or childcare. I used work as an excuse and left everything at home to my wife...
Actually, my own father was that kind of father.
I thought I would never be like that, but before I knew it, I was walking the same path.

That regret is what drives me now.

Remarried and given another chance

When I remarried and had children, I decided, "I will not repeat the same mistakes."

This time, I will be a father who is truly present.
I will create a home where my wife and children can think, "I'm glad Dad is here."

To that end, I began to think seriously about what kind of father I want to be.

Using my father as a negative example

My father was a typical Showa-era salaryman.

He didn't care about the home, and left all housework and childcare to my mother. There were few opportunities to feel my father's love, and I saw my mother's hardships up close.

I don't want to blame my father. That might have been normal for that era.

But I didn't want to be like that... that much was clear.

The tough times and the switch to shorter working hours

Here is one episode.
When my eldest son was 2 or 3 years old.

He would get a fever all the time. I would take him to the pediatrician, drop him off at sick-child daycare, and then go to work. But I would be late for work, and leave early to pick him up... those days continued.

There were days when I wondered, "What on earth am I doing?" But I wanted to be by my children's side.

After much deliberation, I took the plunge and switched to shorter working hours. Of course, it was scary for my career, but I have no regrets.

What I want to do with this note

Right now, I am navigating life with my two children, learning through trial and error every day.

I'm not perfect, and there are plenty of things that don't go well. But I intend to write honestly about that, too.

I hope this note reaches people like these:

• Dads who want to be more involved in housework and childcare but don't know how

• Moms who want their partners to be more involved in housework and childcare

• Dads and moms struggling to balance work, housework, and childcare

• Expectant parents who are about to become moms and dads

• People who feel uncomfortable with the "Showa/Heisei-era father figure"

Based on my real-life experiences, I would be happy if we could think together about a "new father figure = Modern Dad."

I look forward to your follows and likes.

Modern Dad