Dear Babble,
I am not going to congratulate you for starting a “new” section for the dads and it is not because I think that the name Dadding is stupid. Nor is it because you didn’t include me in your list of Top Dad bloggers or because I am not one of the token dads writing for the tiny little corner you devoted to fathers.
Some of the fellas are excited about this because they think that it shows progress. Some of the guys are excited because they think that dads are finally being recognized for our role in parenting. And some of them are excited because they think that this means that people are finally paying attention to dad blogs.
My juvenile response is to say that you can all “bite me” in far more graphic terms than those two words but that wouldn’t be mature and we’re all about maturity so we’ll give you more substance.
I am not interested in being given the “right” to sit in the back of the bus on your blog. The overwhelming amount of your content isn’t directed at fathers, let alone men. Nor do I expect to see much of an impact from adding the Dadding crew. That is ok, you can have your sections about pregnancy, breastfeeding and things that are really geared towards mothers.
Really, there is only so much dads can do in some of those areas which is why the echo chamber of posts about being supportive of your wife/partner exists.
New fathers might be interested in that kind of stuff not to mention a million other things that come up during the pregnancy and afterwards. A blog that says that it is for “a new generation of parents” might consider being a bit more inclusive or changing their tagline to more accurately reflect their focus.
Focus. Right now my focus isn’t upon the linkbait and drama that comes from creating a list of top bloggers but of the nonsensical comments that people make about dad blogs being “new.” Some of you remind me of Columbus discovering the “New World.” Just like the Native Americans who couldn’t figure out what Columbus was talking about I can’t figure out why people talk about dad blogs as being new.
I do understand that dads haven’t been as good at organizing as the moms which is why some of this has occurred. I understand that it has been in the interest of moms to portray themselves as being the major decision makers in many households. That is a useful tool for trying to garner business from brands, inaccurate but useful.
It doesn’t account for any of the single fathers nor does it really take into account all of the joint decisions that take place in a household. And just for kicks lets tip our hats to the dads who are the cooks in their homes and the lack of focus upon them.
I would write more but I need to go make an appearance at the school my kids attend. Can’t wait to hear how cute it is for a father to show up and how sweet a guy I am because I did more than make a deposit at the sperm bank. The saddest part about this is that I am not novel. I will be one of many fathers that show up and yet this ridiculous 1950s stereotype continues to persist.
Well I better go now because in several hours I expect Mrs. Cleaver to meet me at the door. She better have her hair done, be wearing pearls and have a hot meal on the table or she’ll receive a stern talking to about being a responsible wife.
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