[huac]

The best line: "...One day, I sat on the hardwood floor next to my son, both of us exhausted. My son started crying. Then I did, too. Actually, we bawled. I don't know why he was crying, but I was mourning the loss of my life as I knew it..."

Obviously, this kid is crying because instead of having a man for his father, he gets Tinkerbell. If this guy is a tax cheat, he's a cinch for a Obama Cabinet appointment.

[Snake65]

"it was as if something enormous and coveted was subtracted in return, and the transaction left me reeling, like someone who'd just gambled away his soul."

[SuziQ]

Eventually, my wife and I divorced,

I can't imagine why! /sarc

[altura]

I’ve seen a lot of these types of stories lately and it’s sad.

Yes, babies take time, but I never remember resenting it or feeling trapped. They are just such a joy... at least that’s the way I remember it.

But what’s goin’ on with all these downside of parenthood stories.

????

[Theo]

Bump.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The story is a lot worse than this snippet looks.

He’d drive an hour for his doughnuts, but wouldn’t spend ten minutes of proud father face time with his son.

[annelizly]

WHO are these people who think that just because you have a child that your life is over? no movies? no long showers? GET REAL!!! I’m pretty sure that all of us who have children still go to movies and take showers and sleep.

You know it seems to me that there is an epidemic of men who just don’t feel that paternal bond to their children.
That instinctive need to love, protect and nurture your offspring.

[Scotswife]

Absolutely bizarre.

My life BEGAN when I became a mom.

We’ve had 8 and still go to movies.

This is one of the strangest things I’ve ever read.

[KarenMarie]

Ok, so he sucked as a father and viewed his kid as something that he had to persevere thru.

[Jim Noble]

my life was gone. Movies, sleeping, long showers—all gone

I would think that physician assisted suicide would be a good option for Joel - he obviously doesn't have the balls to do it himself.