This is Why We Are Here

Boston.com Moms site

My fellow men, you really do exist, although you wouldn’t know it based on the ratio of Mommy sites to Daddy ones.

Now don’t get me wrong: I believe everyone needs a spot to congregate, collaborate, and cooperate, and nobody – NOBODY – should support moms more than the dads who “work” right alongside them, raising well-adjusted kids who know their alphabets, eat their vegetables, and will grow up to be President.

But where’s the love for dear ol’ dad online?

Has the parental pendulum swung so far askew that everyone assumes moms are the only ones with parenting issues on their minds? That dads aren’t interested, or don’t care?

Are there unique challenges to being a Mom? Certainly, but the same holds true for dads. And while it is wonderful that the moms have so many places to podcast, blog, share stories, and purchase merchandise, there’s a shortage of sites focused on the topics and discussions that dads, granddads, uncles, and other father figures want to cover.

And that’s why we are here.

Now, Digital Dads is not some call for equality, some maneuver to tip the scales in men’s favor. This website is a statement to let everyone know: Dads care too. We have stories to share and it’s important to share them. And we salute our fellow fellows out there who are blogging and podcasting about the fatherly experience, because whether it’s on our site or another one, we hope dads find a place where they can engage others and leverage this medium to improve their lives and the lives of their entire family.

Perhaps someday, mainstream media will recognize that moms aren’t the only one looking for affirmation or guidance on the web. Perhaps someday, marketers will remember that there are oftentimes two people in the household who can spend money on things for the kids.

Until then and beyond, Digital Dads will be right here.

Tags: Blog, dads, media, moms, podcasts

Dan is a life-long Massachusetts native who recently moved to Florida with his wife and two little boys. He teaches web design, produces his own parenting podcast, Baby Time, and remains a fan of the Red Sox.

Tammy Hart

Mommy sites are a better market. It's not really about networking mom's, it's about making money. :) But still, this is a great idea, I'll send my hubby this way, maybe he'll finally "get" what blogs are all about. (he's more of a forum kinda guy).
Dan

@ScottMonty: Just know, if you invite me to one of these test drives, I'm bringing two car seats to install and a double stroller to try and fit! :)
Scott Monty

@PJ - hey, that was probably me. We've got vehicles for all sorts of people. Believe me, I see that firsthand when we have mom bloggers visit the test track, and even though they appreciate the "family" vehicles, there are a few that still drool over the pink Mustang. Dads are certainly no different.

Either way, I'd argue that it's tough fitting the kids int he back seat of the Mustang. ;-)

At one of our future events, I'm thinking of doing something specifically for dad bloggers and what I call digital widowers - the husbands of the oft fawned-over mommy bloggers. They need attention too.

Scott Monty
Global Digital Communications
Ford Motor Company
@ScottMonty
Jason

The sterotypes about dads are bad enough ... but I'm also dealing with the common misperception that just because I'm a divorced dad I don't care or want to be involved in my kids' lives.

Hell we still are regularly negatively judged in court even if we're the best of non-custodial and princely ex-husbands.

That's something that really eats at me.
PJ Mullen

Nice post Dan. You're right, its not about equality, just trying to move past the stereotype of us dads being the lovable dolts that can't, or worse, won't get involved in our children's lives. I'm a stay at home dad, so I'm even more of a freak I guess. I proudly drive a minivan and I sent a tweet to Ford when I saw in a press release that their Transit Connect was designed with all the "cool moms" in mind. My tweet was in jest, but their response was even more telling. It was a link to the Ford Flex and said that they "saved this for the cool dads". Which is ironic because I've seen a lot of blogging about the Flex and how it is great for moms on the go. Now, if they had sent me a link to the Shelby GT500 Mustang, I might have agreed with them. Glad to see your site, keep up the good work.
MSGiro

None of what I am about to say is scientific evidence, but I can see why marketers gravitate towards the moms because in so many situations they are always speaking or writing something about their kids. A significant amount of moms that I am connected to on Facebook write incessantly about it via their status updates. When you have a one dimensional person like that it ends up being a marketers dream. My kid sucks up enough of my life energy per day that she has to really earn her way onto Facebook or Twitter with me. I love being a Dad, but I scrape and claw for "Me Time" and those applications are ways to find escape into alternative universes such as work and play.

Also, I consider myself to be vastly multi-dimensional which I truly believe confuses the heck out of a marketer. Heck, even brands I'm wild about cannot relate to me. Few brands see that. I know Audi does. So does JetBlue. Not many reach that crescendo of being great at knowing their customers. I remember telling a brand director for Wrigley's Orbit why I'm nuts about their product and the response was "Yeah, you're so atypical for us". I actually take offense to that considering I am a longtime and viciously loyal customer. Knowing how much I've spent on that gum over the years, perhaps they're missing the boat on what customers to cultivate as brand advocates.

I'm with you though on breaking stereotypes. Us dads influence a lot of stuff...in order to work around our sports watching and car waxing schedules. ;-)
C.C.

This was one of the biggest reasons why I wanted to start Digital Dads. Because far to often the dad was getting left out of the conversation over and over.

I also think that too many people are dropping the ball on Moms as well. There are so many women out there who are Moms, but they don't blog about that, but about something else and yet marketers and advertisers ignore them. That is stupid on every level.

Adults who have an influence on kids lives may be aunts, uncles, dads or moms. Don't forget any of them. They are ALL important.

Digital Dads - Where Dads Get to be Guys

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This is Why We Are Here