When 7AM Becomes Your Reality: The Sudden Shift From Dad to You

It started as a simple observation, a tweet that barely seemed worth a second thought, but it struck a chord with thousands of Nigerians on social media. Tech Esq., in his usual witty but piercing style, wrote: “…And suddenly, the man leaving for work by 7am is no longer your father… IT\'S YOU!” It was short, sharp, and delivered in a way that hit deep. Soon after, Smallmalik responded with his own reality check: “7am ke? I don reach work by 7am.” And just like that, a conversation that started as a joke became a mirror reflecting the harsh, unavoidable truth of adulthood.

For many Nigerians, and arguably for young adults around the world, this simple shift—recognizing that the early riser you used to mock or sigh at every morning is now your life—is both hilarious and terrifying. It’s a rite of passage, though one rarely announced with fanfare. There is no ceremony for becoming the person who leaves the house before sunrise to fight traffic, juggle responsibilities, and somehow make it through the day without collapsing. One day, your father is the one juggling that reality; the next, you find yourself juggling it too, often without warning.

The tweet struck such a nerve because it is universally relatable. It’s a shared cultural experience that transcends social media clout. Think about it: growing up, most of us saw parents, especially fathers, leave the house before the sun fully rose. You might have groaned at the alarm, rolled over, and wished them well. “7AM? Madness!” you would have thought. You might have whispered to siblings or friends, mocking the very concept of leaving the house while it’s still dark. And yet, the cycle of life is both cruel and funny. Before you know it, your own responsibilities demand that you are the one up and out, often faster than your coffee has time to cool.

Social media has amplified this realization. Platforms like X.com, formerly Twitter, have become both a stage and a confessional. People share the absurdity, the exhaustion, and the small victories of adult life. Tech Esq. captured the humor, Smallmalik highlighted the grind, and the responses from users across Nigeria demonstrated a collective understanding. Memes, replies, and jokes poured in, each person finding a way to articulate the silent, unspoken truth of adulthood: you grow up, and suddenly, you’re your own dad.

But what does this shift really mean? On a practical level, it’s about responsibility. Leaving the house by 7AM is no longer just a matter of being disciplined or punctual; it is about survival. In cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, traffic alone makes a 7AM departure almost mandatory. Employers expect consistency, deadlines don’t care about sleep, and bills—unlike childhood chores—won’t wait for convenience. You don’t leave at 7AM because you want to; you leave because you must. And that is the first real taste of adulthood many people get: the recognition that the world keeps moving, whether you’re ready or not.

Beyond logistics, there is a psychological shift. The moment you recognize that you have become the person you used to think of as infallible or distant—the early riser, the disciplined, sometimes stern parent figure—is profound. It forces a reevaluation of your own parents, their routines, and their sacrifices. Those mornings you spent judging, those times you rolled your eyes at lectures about discipline, suddenly feel like missed opportunities to understand the depth of adult responsibility. And while this realization can carry a twinge of guilt or nostalgia, it also brings humor. After all, social media thrives on relatability, and the relatability of becoming “your own dad” is so sharp it hurts—in a funny way.

The reactions to the tweet also reveal another truth about modern life: adulting is isolating, yet communal. You are technically alone in your daily grind, commuting in silence, working late into the night, and making decisions that have long-term consequences. Yet, when someone on X.com captures that universal pain with just a few words, the sense of isolation breaks for a moment. Suddenly, you realize thousands of others are in the same boat, facing the same traffic jams, waking up at the same ungodly hour, and secretly wondering if anyone else feels like they are faking it. This is the magic of social media: it reminds you that while adulting may feel lonely, the experience itself is nearly universal.

The humor in Tech Esq.’s observation lies in its simplicity, but the truth resonates because it is inevitable. No one plans to wake up before dawn and silently resent the blaring alarm clock. No one dreams of becoming the person who leaves the house with a lunchbox in one hand, a briefcase in the other, and the hope that the day treats them kindly. Yet, here we are. Life moves forward, the responsibilities pile up, and before long, you are that very figure you once observed with bemusement from your bed.

Some users took this reality and turned it into a broader commentary on societal expectations. In Nigeria, where commuting is unpredictable and employment often demands strict punctuality, waking up at 5:30AM or 6AM is not uncommon. The “7AM” marker is symbolic—it represents the moment when youth confronts adulthood. The tweets echo a sentiment felt across generations: the world doesn’t slow down to accommodate our readiness to grow up. And whether you laugh, groan, or cry quietly in the morning, the truth remains: 7AM waits for no one.

It is also worth noting that this realization, while initially shocking, is not without empowerment. Recognizing yourself in your parents’ shoes comes with insight. You begin to appreciate the lessons once dismissed, respect the routines once ridiculed, and perhaps even develop a strange fondness for the early morning hours you once cursed. Tech Esq.’s tweet is funny because it is true, but it is also a quiet reminder that adulthood, with all its inconvenience and exhaustion, comes with agency. You are now responsible for your own life, your own success, and your own discipline. And that, for all its challenges, is worth a laugh and a nod of approval.

As the conversation continues online, it serves as a cultural touchstone. Parents might see their children’s reactions and smile privately, knowing that the cycle of life continues as expected. Young adults might laugh nervously, sip their coffee, and wonder how long they can sustain the 7AM departures. And for everyone else, it’s a moment of shared understanding: the world keeps turning, alarm clocks keep ringing, and one day, you too will realize that the man leaving for work at 7AM is no longer someone else—it’s you.

In the end, the humor, the shock, and the nostalgia combine to make one simple point: growing up is inevitable, repetitive, and often hilarious. Social media, with its ability to condense experience into short, relatable bursts, captures it perfectly. Whether you are leaving the house at 7AM, stuck in traffic, or just scrolling through X.com trying to find a laugh before your own alarm drags you out of bed, remember this: the transition from child to adult is sudden, undeniable, and universally shared. And if Tech Esq. and Smallmalik are any indication, it’s a moment best met with laughter, coffee, and a grudging sense of respect for your former self—the parent figure you once rolled your eyes at.

So the next time you check your watch at 6:55AM, pack your bag, and groan at the sound of the alarm, remember that you are not alone. You have joined the ranks of the early risers, the responsible, and yes, the exhausted. You are now, officially, your own father. And if social media is anything to go by, everyone else is right there with you—sometimes laughing, sometimes sighing, but always moving forward, one 7AM at a time.