Being a father is difficult. That is why it is important to have a good support system. Unfortunately, men aren’t as good as women at connecting with one another and sharing their hopes, fears, and shortcomings. However, I feel blessed to have a strong network of blogging fathers who I can be open an honest with.
My strongest relationships are with my buds, Paul and Eric. These men keep me grounded and teach me many things about fatherhood. I am very fortunate to have them in my life.
Paul and I are actually cousins, but our relationship has blossomed beyond family ties. We hang out together, support one another and even take our sons camping together. He has helped me during difficult times in my marriage and continues to be a sounding board for any issues I may have in my life.
I have never met Eric in person, but I feel as if I’ve known him for years. My wife recently asked me which of my online friends would be a real world friend. Eric immediately came to mind. We keep in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Google Voice and have served together as panelist on fatherhood webinar. Eric has featured me on his blog series, Father in Focus (read it if you’d like to learn more about me and my thoughts on fatherhood). But more importantly, we share a strong connection that transcends the internet.
In addition to these men, I have developed some close bonds with the following fathers who encourage and inspire me:
- Dad Unmasked
- Daddy Dan
- Building Camelot
- Real Men Drive Minivans
- Black and Married with Kids
- No Off Season for Dads
- African American Dad
I’d like to say thank you to Paul, Eric, and all the fathers in my real world and online network. Your support and encouragement make being a dad a little less difficult.
Stay Strong,
Question: Have you made any online friends who became real world friends?
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I appreciate you listing me as a good friend and father. I have been tweeting for only a few months now and most recently started a blog. I can honestly say you were my top inspiration for starting a blog. Stay cool my friend and thanks again.
i think that’s so awesome! and dan truly is a cool guy and a great dad…just like you!
oh yes and shawn cracks me up. he is a cool dad too!
I love you, too, Brother!
*sniffle*
You’ve made Mr. Man all misty eyed.
I’m humbled to be mentioned here as not only a fellow dad but also as a friend. I’ve only met one dad blogger and he lives here in Memphis but he doesn’t blog anymore. I’d love to get to meet many of my online friends and I hope the Dad-blog convention comes to fruition so I can have that chance. Thanks again for the mention Fred I definitely appreciate it and I’m off to check out some of the links you’ve listed here.
You are right that we don’t network as well as our better halves. Your blog was one of the first I started following when I got mine going and I’ve learned a lot from you. I’m very humbled to be mentioned in this post and look forward to an opportunity to meet in real life. It would be great to meet you, Shawn, Paul, Em Tyler and Dan. I have to check out the others you mentioned and look forward to getting to know them as well.
Great post. It’s great that dads are blogging too and not just about “macho” topics. I have met a blogging friend IRL and I’m going to be meeting another next month. I can’t wait to meet her in person because she’s one of the most supportive friends I have. It’s amazing the kind of connection one can make over the Internet. Those who are skeptical about romantic relationships developing over the Internet need to take a look at the bond and care that can be developed from getting to know each other this way.
Thanks for the shout out MD. You are definitely one of the top Dads doing it on the web. I appreciate what you do on your site and also how you’ve answered the call whenever we’ve asked to borrow anything from your or for you to be involved in one of our projects. Definitely know that we’ve got your back at BMWK and don’t forget to hit me up when you make it to DC
That is a top notch list of Dads to keep close in your circle.
I’m glad you have such a strong network of dads. I’ve discovered that “virtual” friends can have just as much influence on your life as IRL friends and I am so glad I have met so many through blogging.
Kudos to you for realizing your friends, in life and the cyber world. We can all use that type of support. I have a few myself and SO appreciate their time and thoughts.
Thanks, MD. Snatched a few moments between cleaning to catch a wi-fi signal and “plug-in”. That’s right, my laptop is in a backpack and goes everywhere with me even when I’m cleaning out my old apartment. This means so much to me. Lately God has been speaking to me loud and clear through the voices and actions of others despite a very rough patch that I’m going through. This post is only confirmation that He is real and actually hears me.
Thanks, Bro.
E. aka E.Payne, aka Eric
We dads have to support each other, too… just don’t try to get me into a conversation about whether or not your trousers make your butt look big!
GET OUT! You and Mr. Man are cousins? So cool! I guess I learn something new everyday.
I love how the Dad bloggers have formed a community online. The support is great, isn’t it?
I’m glad to have support from my Dad blogger friends as well.
So true,… the fellowship with other men is vital and key to a successful life. Always of the utmost importance, not to be neglected at any cost.
I’ve bonded with other dads online. I’ve also developed some close online relationships with some mom bloggers too. We’re touch-and-go, but parenting comes first. I don’t begrudge an online buddy for “disappearing” for a stretch of time.
That’s why we’re here. Those of us taking the time to connect with other parents do so to learn from each other, get support, and have some fun. We do this to support the primary mission – to be better parents.
I’ve had the same group of guy friends for over 20 years, and that gives me hope that future generations of men can bond and stay close and support each other throughout life as women have done for thousands of years.
I’m a busy, busy working daddy, but when I make time, this is one of the places I stop for sure. I’ve just recently met “work” social media friends face to face for the first time, one of which reads my daddy blog. I was certainly honored.
These online connections help fuel the need for closer communities, and I’m very thankful for that.
None of my virtual friends have become IRL friends, due mainly to the fact that they all live in states far, far, away, and most of them are women, which wouldn’t sit well with the Boss.