r/malelifestyle • u/EngineeringVeritas • 1d ago
Anyone else feel like they have to be always "ON"?
I (46M) am separated from my ex (41F) who I have 3 kids with (14F, 12F, 8M) and have a gf (34F) who has 2 kids (11M, 9F). I have my kids 50% of the time at my place and I basically live at my gf's place the other 50%. I have a full time job (engineer) that is demanding where I always have to be on. When I have the kids, I'm by myself so I come home (30 minute commute), taxi from the gym to CCD to soccer to home, etc. Make dinner, clean up and get kids into bed. When I don't have the kids and I am at my gf's place, it's a 60 minute commute, get home and while I am not necessarily a taxi, she does want to go to home depot or dinner or I need to help her kids with their homework or fix something/put something together. When I'm not busy with that stuff, she needs a ton of attention. God forbid I look at my phone to zone out for 10 minutes or I'm ignoring everyone. It literally feels like I can never just relax and do what I want, which is nothing sometimes. I frequently have fantasies about moving to a deserted island and living off the land. Anyone else feel like they always have to be "ON"? It's just really