"We separated soon after she was born, and I was sad and miserable. I had this idea of what my family was going to look like with the big house and white picket fence and now it seemed impossible. I was pretty selfish during that phase, prioritizing myself and numbing myself with alcohol. I couch-surfed with friends. It wasn't as if I was a bad dad, but I wasn't stepping up in the way that I needed to."
Growing up involved instability and difficult experiences, including periods without electricity and early alcohol use. After adoption at 15, a new family emphasized what it meant to function as an adult and provided exposure to a different side of life. Blue-collar work began at 18, but tattooing remained the goal and felt out of reach. He pursued it through apprenticeship, earning little at first and moving into better tattoo opportunities. After meeting his children’s mother, he had two children, separated soon after their births, and struggled with sadness, selfishness, and alcohol. About eight months ago he became sober, had the children live with him, and built stability through homemade food, shared routines, and a small apartment.
Read at www.businessinsider.com
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