Leaving “Charming”: Finding Peace With the Life I Didn’t Expect

We all have stories we tell ourselves about who our kids will become, how our relationships will unfold, and what life is supposed to look like. But what happens when reality tears those stories apart?In this week’s episode of Hi Pod! I’m Dad, James Guttman shares a raw, honest reflection on the life he never expected. From a divorce during the pandemic to parenting a nonverbal son with autism, James opens up about the imagined futures he had to grieve and the unexpected beauty he found in letting them go.▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube and subscribe to the channel: 👉 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Qn6bV6k6Jq8📺 YouTube: @HiBlogImDad💬 The emotional centerpiece? A memory about almost giving his son the middle name “Charming” so he could impress girls at bars one day. It’s a funny, touching reminder of the hopes we place on unborn children — and how healing it can be to release those hopes when life takes a different turn.🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform — including Spotify, Audible, Apple, and more — or stream the episode directly here:  👉 Listen on HiPodImDad.com📖 Hi World, I’m Dad — Available now on Amazon (print, eBook, and audiobook): 👉 Buy the book📝 New blog posts every Monday & Wednesday at HiBlogImDad.com 📱 Follow @HiJamesGutman on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and FacebookIt's Here! Get the book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation” on audio, digital, or print.Follow Us On TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.