I Am Not Super Dad; Not Even Close
While taking some good natured ribbing from my friends about my new found voice as, “Canadian Dad”, it occurred to me that the perception of what I’m doing might not match up with the goal of why I’m doing it. My goal is not to portray myself as some kind of Super Dad for spending time with my kids. In fact, I hadn’t even really thought about that side of it until recently.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my friends and take absolutely no offence to the, “Just tell them you are Canadian Dad” and “I blocked you so my wife won’t think I’m a terrible Dad” jokes. We have all been trash talking each other for years and it’s just the way we all interact together. Plus, there’s the fact that they don’t even read the blog anyway, so it’s hard to take any kind of literal offence.
I started this blog as a vessel to feed my addiction for writing, as well as a way to keep a form of living record of my journey through fatherhood. The fact that the domain CanadianDad.com was available is a major reason why I decided to stop procrastinating about it and actually start writing. Truthfully, the writing was the major reason for the blogging idea in the first place. I went through many different topic ideas before settling on the fatherhood niche.
This blog could easily have been, FantasyHockeyGuy.com or RealityTVJunkies.com, and I would have been happy at the time, just to be writing. I am, however, eternally grateful to have chosen to write about parenting because something funny happened along the way. The blogging has opened my eyes to a whole new world of fatherhood, where it’s okay to express your feelings and emotions about being a Dad. It doesn’t make me a better father than someone who doesn’t blog or share their inner most feelings on parenthood, it’s just a different avenue and one that I appreciate and can relate to.
There are a million great Dads out there who are better at it than I am, but I find that writing and sharing my experiences is helping me to become a more attentive father. I still spend way too much time on the computer, when I should be outside spending more time helping my son learn to ride his bike. I’m not always excited to go on a family trip that requires over 4 hours of driving, even though it is a “family” trip. One time, I even pretended to take a picture of the kids with my iPhone, even though I was actually checking my twitter feed…
The point is that I am not a perfect father and I am going to make mistakes, just like everyone else. I don’t write about my life as a Dad so you will think I am an amazing father. I do it so I can share my stories and learn from my mistakes, while also being a part of an amazing community of parents, who are always supportive and more than willing to share their suggestions and ideas.
The biggest benefit I have gained from this blog, is that I am much more self aware when it comes to my habitual lazy ways. I spend a lot more quality time with my kids these days, where I may have just popped on a movie in the past. Instead of dreading the thought of my wife leaving me with the kids for the day, I am actually excited when I get to plan some fun time with Daddy; And not because it’ll make for a great story either, but just because they are so much fun to be around.
Writing about fatherhood is helping me to become a better father for my children, and anything else that comes with it is only gravy (unless you hate gravy, then it could be ice cream or whatever). I know so many great fathers out there and I hope that if you take anything from this post, it will be that just because I share my stories of fatherhood, I am not Super Dad. I am just one of the many Dads out there, trying to provide the best possible care for my children. Sometimes I am successful and other times, not so much, but I’m learning more every day and I’m happy with my progress.
I am proud to be a father and I hope that comes through in my writings about my family. I only hope that you will realize that for all the compliments and accolades I have received since I started blogging, I am far from being a perfect parent. I am just a Dad like most other Dads, except that I have chosen to write about it.
I think a fun exercise would be to take a minute out of your day to let a parent know that you think they are doing a great job. Even though I say I am not a Super Dad, I still enjoy hearing the kind words and think other parents would appreciate it just as much. I don’t know, just thinking out loud again.
Cheers!
No matter what is said or written … you are definately a Super DAD and a Super Husband in our books!
I would change your name to WORLD DAD!!
Thanks honey 😀 Truthfully, you are the one that keeps this house afloat and I am simply along for the ride! You’re the inspirational one, to me.
Good post Chris. My husband (Chris as well actually) suggested that I write a post about dad’s being parents not baby sitters. He gets frustrated with comments like “Oh you are on baby sitting duty” if he’s out alone with our daughter. He is a hands on dad. Again, not super dad either, but he is just as much a parent to our girl as I am.
I think we have to be careful about laying all these accolades on men for doing what they should be doing – parenting their children. It sends the wrong kind of message to youth. Yes dads are more likely to be the ones working outside the home but that doesn’t lessen their responsibilities as fathers. I am a work outside the home mom and nobody refers to me as the babysitter when I’m with my girl……
Having said that, I completely, 100% agree that telling a parent (mom or dad) that they are doing a great job is awesome! I mean I wrote a whole post about my one mother in law (I have two) telling me I’m a good mom and what that meant to me!
So, Chris, keep up the great work. You are a great dad and a pretty darn good writer too 😉
That’s one of the great things about the recent surge in Dad blogging. We are trying to convey a message that we are not babysitter’s and that we genuinely enjoy the company of our families. As far as the accolades go, I think it is that way because it is such a new trend for so many Dad’s to be sharing their stories and it catches people off guard. Just like all other trends, my hope is that it just gets to a point where a parent is a parent, regardless of sex. That’s a post for another time though 😀
Also, I read your post about your MIL and thought it was fantastic! Thanks for the writing compliment, that one I will accept accolades for, lol. I am still very green when it comes to writing but I learn so much everyday and can’t wait to see where this takes me! Have a great day!
You seem like a great dad Chris, and I enjoy reading your blog about your various adventures in fatherhood, as does my hubby! He says there should be more “dad” bloggers to highlight all that dads do lol. Parenthood is definitely an adventure, and it’s wonderful to have the ability to write about it! 🙂
Thanks, Brandi. I agree and hope that the recent trend of new Dad bloggers will continue. It’s nice to be surrounded by like-minded guys who are around to help each other out. Plus, it’s good to read stories from other dad’s so you can see just how normal you really are.
We can’t be super all the time but striving to be better is pretty great.
I couldn’t agree more! Nice to run into you again!
I LOVED this post, Chris! It really shows what a genuine person you are which has obviously translated into your dad-hood as well. You have two lucky children! 🙂
I’m sharing this post on my FB page – cheers!
Thanks for sharing, Kristy! I really appreciate all of the support I’ve received from the blogging community since I started out. It’s been quite overwhelming!
I love reading your blog – I love how honest it is about the ups AND downs…. the love for your family DOES come across whenever you post about them
Thanks, Ashley! I enjoy yours as well as I find it’s nice to be able to read about someone and know who they are, as opposed to only knowing an avatar! Thank you for all your help too, I probably would have bailed without it.
I love your honesty, and if you can even discuss these thoughts, that has you at super dad status all the way 🙂
Haha, thanks, Stacey! I figure if I’m not writing my honest feelings, what’s the point of writing anything?
Chris, your site is unique as there are not that many fathers blogging about fatherhood as the main focus, whereas there are quite a few mothers doing the same. Glad you didn’t choose the RealityTv.com!
Jenna
http://www.snymed.blogspot.ca
Haha, I might still do that website 😀
I hope that more Dads will jump onto the scene in the coming year, so they can see exactly how great the community feeling is.
You are awesome. What a wonderful blog post and to know such a genuine soul is behind this post, that’s what you portray. You can sense who are through your writing and that is unique.
Thanks, Erica, that’s very nice of you to say!
Great post and good idea about complimenting a parent. We should all do that more.
PS – Love the story about pretending to take photos but really being on twitter. Kids do ask to have their picture taken WAY too much.
Nice post 🙂
Once again Chris, superb! Still think you’re a Super Dad, and a Super Husband. We are all guilty of the fake photo op/twitter feed check… trust me, every time I pull out my phone and am holding it up in the photo taking position, they think I am taking photos, half the time… I am not, I’m just trying to get a better signal.
You truly are an inspiring Dad and hope you inspire many other fathers to throw away that ‘babysitter’ label and voice themselves, because in the end, Dads are just as important as Moms and usually more fun too!
Now, go have a tea party and paint your nails! Your daughter will love it 🙂
Wow, thanks, you are just a giant bucket of awesome! As far as the tea party and nail painting go, I am all in and can’t wait for her to want to do that!