Since we started marked improvement in their allergy symptoms, the doctor said to go one step further and get an air purifier
I thought that having a family would be terrifying for me, but the opposite has been the case. I haven’t felt more joy in my life than I have right now, in part because the happiest experiences in my past were always mired by periods of intense depression. I can put on rose colored glasses when I look at my first two years of college, but the reality is that I was completely miserable more than I was happy. I have flashbulb memories of the days where I felt amazing and on top of the world, but my mind darts and flees from the memories of depressive episodes and anxiety attacks from the absolute madness unfolding around me. So in all honesty, I like having a family that loves me and relies on me for warmth and support. Life is better as a father and a husband than it ever was living through superficial chaos as a youngster. I stand by that position even when it gets tough caring for kids that bring their own chaos from their sheer vulnerability in the world. For instance, my kids started developing sinus and respiratory allergies recently and their pediatrician was struggling to find the cause. Finally he told me to use better HVAC filters to see if that helped at all. Since we started marked improvement in their allergy symptoms, the doctor said to go one step further and get an air purifier. I was grateful when the air purifier improved their symptoms even more, nearly giving them their old lives back. Now I’m making arrangements to get the ductwork cleaned and have the old carpets torn out and wood flooring put in their place.