The Dad Who Didn’t Know He Was Broken | Leeds News

Leeds News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 14, 2026 · 2m

A 27-year-old dad from Devon, Tom Phillips, thought he didn’t want kids—until he met Francesca, married her, and became a dad to baby Jude. But instead of the “instant dad glow,” he spiraled into numbness, anxiety, and depression, convinced he was a bad husband and father. He felt like a spare part, especially since bonding with a newborn felt impossible without the easy physical connection moms often have. After just two weeks of paternity leave, he returned to work, isolated and misunderstood by friends who didn’t have kids. He tried running and the gym to numb his pain, but nothing…