The Greatest Aussie Dad Blogs Of All Time
*Note - Updated December 2011
To look at me you’d think I was an extremely tired, frustrated unapproachable man with an angry expression but there is a disco inside my head and the mindset of Rambo and the combination of these two forces creates the most mortally dangerous and technically brilliant dancing machine the world has ever seen. I can massacre entire armies with my intense focus and raise them again with the smooth moves only available to those with one foot firmly planted in dance heaven.
Something stopped me from including the above paragraph in one of my weekly ranting posts a few months back – a sudden drop in self esteem. A day before I was about to post it, I was chatting on Facebook, and a close friend of a person I used to talk to occasionally told me that I was quite unique, and even though she used a smiley emoticon in an attempt to disguise her tone, I just knew that she was rolling her eyes and shaking her head as she hit RETURN on her smarmy little keyboard.
Twelve coffees later I shuffled through an IPOD of 80’s classics, removed that paragraph from the post and had a quiet moment of caffeine-wired self reflection. Here are some of the key points I raised with myself –
- “My daily routines and events are ordinary and common. I can engage in conversation and even appear to be almost normal. But on the inside I am perpetually strutting 'the walk scene' in John Travolta’s 1980s hit movie, Staying Alive. (See below for reference.)
- I may have a heightened sense of my dancing abilities – some may even say I am schizophrenically skilled in this area – but it is of little concern because, as they say, ‘it only matters what’s on the inside’.
- I’m pretty sure I have an innate desire to rebel. Whenever someone paints me into ‘the common crowd’ I find I’m pumping my tyres to rise above it. And whenever someone 'neon lights' me with labels like 'unique' or 'not quite normal' I find that I’m searching for a way back into the warm, safe anonymity of the regular Aussie Joe. I mean, in the end, we all just want to fit in... but not completely.“
Since then I have had daily conversations with myself that always seem to end with this question; 'Am I the only Dad in the world who uses interior monologue, mentally sexy underwear and a semi-reality based (but not quite delusional) appreciation of the world to cope with the day-to-day ups and downs of parenthood and partnerhood?'
And the answer I give myself every time is; 'Ha! Of course not. It is much more likely that there are tens of Aussie Dads who think exactly like me, at least once in their lives.'
It was with that mindset that I went on a mad search for the Greatest Aussie Dad Blogs Of All Time because Dads who blog are unusual in these parts. But Dads in general? Well, they’re pretty common just about everywhere. So what better way to feel a bit unique and a little ordinary than to fit in with a unique group of ordinary people! Bin-fricken-go!
I am posting today because my search has proved fruitful. I am among a growing number of blogging Aussie Dads. And even though the mental images and the interior monologues we create may vary slightly, we can all draw strength from knowing that, at our very core, we are simply and purely mental.
Right, before we head into the list, let's get into the groove.
And this is the conga line of Dad bloggers who are doing the John Travolta strut with me -
Matt is a new addition to the conga line. Here's what this England born Dad who is now living in Melbourne has to say - "My name is Matt and I'm a stay at home dad. I've come a long way in a year, initially I thought Braxton Hicks was a 1960's American soul singer. Today I am a dad, who always makes sure Max is clothed, fed, protected and loved. I have smiled more this year than any other."
This is a highly entertaining, very funny new Aussie Dad blog with a twist.
"Remember the Tiger Mother? Well now it's time for The Tiger Father, a stay-at-home dad who actually lives in China."
Twitter - @trevmarshallsea
Ben Arnott is the father of three sons aged 3, 4 and 6 and a daughter born in January 2011. This man can strut with the best of them!
"I am performing a Primary Carer role (aka Mr Mum, aka Trophy Husband) until August 2012."
Twitter - @3amdadblog
I've only found this blog recently. I can't recommend it enough. I'm going to spend a fair bit of time in the archives there. Let's here from the blogger, Rohan, himself - "This blog allows me to regale you with thrilling yarns of cooking, hunting, fishing, harvesting from my patch and of course daily life with my little family living in our historic country town situated in Victoria, Australia."
Twitter - @wholelarderlove
Damon is a Dad, philosopher, writer and martial artist. Damon hates the term Daddy Blogger but I just have to include him here because his articles and blog posts on parenting are always so well written and so thought provoking. Damon and his wife have gone to great lengths to ensure that they both have career time and heaps of family time.Twitter - @damonyoung
Torkona is a new Dad who blogs about the things he loves and also a PC Gamer and website designer offering tips on SEO and other blog related topics.
Twitter -@torkona.
A great Mum and Dad blogging team, Tim and Joyce have documented the pregnancy and birth of their baby girl, NKOTB, who arrived on the planet February 13 2011. And their posts since then offer a great insight into a new parent’s life. I particularly liked Tim’s thoughts on Paternity leave.
Twitter - @tot_hotornot
Colin Wee is a former Stay-at-Home-Dad, turned Work-at-Home-Dad, the original Superparent and a heavyweight in the parent-blogging scene. He’s gathered an impressive group of writers around his website. The website is currently being renovated but you can check out Colin's other site - The Associate Woman - in the meantime.
Twitter - @superparents_au
The Shed (at Three Li'l Princesses)
Kellie O’brien, creator of Three Lil’ Princesses, has built a virtual room – called The Shed – for her hubby Julian to post in. Very cool idea. Julian gives a Dad’s perspective on life with his two girls, Ella (4) and Holly (1).
Chris Howe is a writer and Dad. He has one of the best bio’s I’ve read. His writing can be found at An Idle Dad and elsewhere.
Check out this cool piece at Mamamia.
Twitter - @AnIdleDad
Adrian (the blogger) and his partner Ralph new Aussie Dad’s from Melbourne who pursued fatherhood through Indian Surrogacy.
They are the proud parents of beautiful little Alice and Thomas, born June 2011.
The funny and at times moving writings of Murph, a Melbourne-based Stay At Home Dad to Miss Moo and Dennis the Menace. His wife Juicy Tomato wants him to stop shaving his head and grow a sensible side part.
Twitter - @3murphlefevre
*Even though I am exhaustive, this list isn't. If you are an Aussie Dad blogger, or know of one, please email me the details or leave a comment below. Any bloggers currently on the list can be removed, or have their photos, blurb and details changed by contacting me here.
Comments (1)
I KNOW THIS SMACKS OF DESPERATION, A BIT LIKE GOING UP TO A GROUP OF BOYS YOU DONT KNOW AND ASKING IF YOU CAN PLAY BALL WITH THEM. BUT I HAVE MY OWN FLEDGLING BLOG, TAKING A LIGHT HEARTED LOOK AT STAY AT HOME DADDING, JUST WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS ANOTHER PARENTING BLOG. I WOULD BE HONOURED IF YOU HAD A LOOK - http://daddownunder.wordpress.com/