I Thought I'd Appreciate it LaterI Thought I'd Appreciate it Later
Sober Friends
Matt and Steve talk about Father’s Day, graduations and how quickly time passes, contrasting years of simple abstinence with deeper sobriety. They share how a recovery programme and fellowship help them be present parents and grandparents, turning ordinary days into meaningful memories.
34:23•30 Jun 2026
I Thought I'd Appreciate It Later: Sobriety, Fatherhood and Ordinary Moments
Episode Overview
- There is a big difference between simply removing alcohol (being sober) and living with sobriety supported by a programme and fellowship.
- Ordinary days and small routines often matter more than big milestones when people look back on family life.
- Kids do not need perfect parents; they need parents who are present and willing to show up consistently.
- Tools like making amends help repair strained relationships and reduce resentment, strengthening long-term sobriety.
- Taking care of physical and emotional health in recovery allows people to fully engage with children, grandchildren and everyday joys.
“Life doesn't slow down, but real sobriety has given me the framework to be present in those moments and to feel like I can make the ordinary days become memories.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation between Matt J and Steve on the Sober Friends podcast leans into exactly that, using Father’s Day and graduation season as a backdrop to talk about time, family, and what “real sobriety” actually looks like. You’ll hear Matt reflecting on his son’s high school graduation and his daughter’s move into secondary school, realising, as he puts it, “I thought I had more time.
And I don’t.” Rather than wallowing in regret, he talks honestly about learning to treat ordinary days as memories in the making, and how sobriety gives him a framework to be more present as a dad. Steve brings in another angle: years of being “sober” without having true sobriety.
He shares stories of working long hours, missing pick-ups, and seeing his son as “the only kid sitting out there waiting for me to come,” even though he wasn’t drinking at the time. His turning point came through working a recovery programme, leaning on fellowship, and using tools like making amends when he oversteps. As he says, the programme and the people in it are what help him handle “the ick” that remains after alcohol is removed.
The chat ranges from grandparent fatigue with energetic toddlers to hiking mountains at 68, from guilt over missed moments to gratitude for second chances. Throughout, the message stays simple and accessible: sobriety is work, but it creates space for peaceful Father’s Days, silly football matches, and quiet cups of coffee with a neighbour. Anyone in early recovery, or wondering if they can ever enjoy family occasions without alcohol, will find reassurance here.
You’ll be reminded that kids don’t need perfect parents; they just need parents who show up. So what ordinary moment are you willing to turn into a memory today?
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