Gloria Patria (In Praise of the Father)

For the first several months after I started this "Daddy blog," I had no readers except for my lovely and encouraging wife, the BossLady. This was fine with me. I really just wanted an anonymous place where I could keep an online diary of my impending fatherhood and chronicle the journey into parenthood. Though I tend to kid around about it a lot, I'm not entirely joking when I say that one of the main reasons I started the blog was because it really was cheaper than therapy.

I also enjoyed the idea of having a creative outlet for my writing. I don't have much use for it in my daily life but I've always been the kind of person who, instead of sending postcards on long trips overseas saying, "wish you were here," would instead send 2,000 word e-mails to my friends about getting drunk with Muslims in Pakistan or explaining how "Falcon Crest" is actually much funnier in Hindi (whereas, on the other hand, "Joey" is not funny in ANY language.) I missed having a place to release the strange machinations and observations that bounced around in my brain on a constant basis. 

In no way did I think that my blog would ever be read by more than a small handful of people.  However, soon after I started, my two blogging godfathers, Jay and Greg, started linking to my site and pushing people to come over and read various posts I had written.   

Suddenly, for the first time, I had readers (which is a weirdly strange phenomenon, kind of like picking your nose in bed and looking up to see 50 people peering through your window.)  But more important than readers, I found an amazing community of people with whom I've become friends. Some are parents. Some aren't. But connecting with so many people as a community in this online internet thingy has been, by far, the most rewarding aspect of having started this blog.

However, since MetroDad primarily deals with my ongoing experience of fatherhood, I've got a soft spot for all my fellow dads out there.  There aren't too many men writing online about fatherhood so I try to promote all of them as much as possible.  We've done this here a few times before and I'm glad to say that many of these guys have become good friends of mine. Some I've met in person. Others are friends whom I just haven't met...yet!

Anyway, the great thing about daddy bloggers is that there are always new ones that are starting every day.  Here are a few new ones that I've discovered recently. Enjoy!

Corndog & Rootbeer

There's a small possibility that Henri is my long-lost twin brother.  French-name?  Check.  Korean-American?  Check.  Unhealthy obsession with scotch?  Double check.  However, if my strange sense of humor is derived from juvenile drug use, I think Henri's weirdness comes from being dropped on his head as a baby.  He's a loving father and husband who thinks he's an Irish ninja.  I got such a kick out of reading him, I even recruited him for the Rice Daddies blog.  Go check him out.

Flailing My Arms

A self-described "dad, partner, theatre-maker, graphic designer, writer, and flagrantly flailing 20-something living in Austin, TX," Jonathan is a very cool dude whom I've enjoyed reading a lot lately.  In many ways, he reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger.  And although he sometimes struggles to find balance in his life, I continue to be impressed by the fact that he's an introspective guy who is always asking the right questions of himself.  For a kid in his 20's, he's a refreshingly mature guy and a very talented writer.  I think if Dutch and I were ever to have a baby together, he'd come out a lot like Jonathan! We like Jonathan. A lot.

Spit Up & Shut Down

Sandy is a stay-at-home screenwriter dad living in Long Beach with two kids, a dog, and a hilarious take on life. He dresses his kid up in an Elmo costume just to hang out around the house, has actually peed at a supermarket urinal with his son on his shoulders, and is teaching himself how to play cricket via a book. Best of all, he's the inventor of the bologna-melt paternity test. Clearly a man after my own heart.

L.A.Daddy

Tim is a displaced Ohioan who has been working as a marketing director and writer/director for the past 11 years.  In his spare time, he's an avant-garde raconteur, retired gigolo, and a proud papa to a two-year old girl.  I enjoy reading Tim because we're both around the same age so we can relate to one another. When he writes about Colecovision or I write about Brite-lites, we each know what the other is talking about. Not like all you young 'uns out there!

Abba-Daddy

Abba-Daddy is a fellow New Yorker who's been married for 8 years and has two wonderful daughters.  Whereas I'm more Jewish by affiliation, Abba-Daddy is a proud Israeli man with a deep love for his homeland, music, and Elmo porn.  Ok, just kidding about that last one (sort of.)  He's just starting out but I'm enjoying reading him. I think you will too.

I Hate Snaps

I feel like I've known Kaz forever. He was such a loyal and frequent commenter over at daddytypes that I think Greg finally just told him to start his own blog. What I truly love about Kaz is that he's a passionate man. As a tree-hugging environmental vegetarian, Kaz shares tips to help other parents live "green" and discusses the highs and lows of raising a loving daughter. As a meat-eating, non-recycling urbanite who drives a car that gets about 11 mpg, I still got nothing but love for Kaz. Go check him out.

Dad in Progress

There are many cool things to like about Michael. He's a great guy who spends a lot of time and energy in trying to figure out how to be a great dad. He's also an avid reader of parenting resources who always has an interesting take on the articles he references on his site. However, the coolest thing about Michael may be the fact that he is the head of North American brand communications at Lego. The dude works at Lego Land!

As always, if you know of any new dad bloggers out there, feel free to shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment. Otherwise, enjoy these newbies. I think you'll like them.

GO METS!

Comments

[Pattie]

Wow, for a second there you had me thinking you were going to say you quit (despite the post's title). I'll have to check out some of your fellow daddy bloggers (love Spit Up & Shut Down's blog name).

Keep up the great writing. It's nice to know you share the love with other bloggers.

[The Zero Boss]

Awesome selection of up and comers, dude.

It's so weird seeing Sweet Juniper on your first-ever roundup. I remember when Dutch was just starting out. Now he takes our fucking lunch money and leaves us whimpering in the schoolyard.

[JustLinda]

I think it's great that you do this! I really do... I wish established bloggers would more often help give the new peeps a leg up and get them some readership started.

I don't have time tonight, but tomorrow I shall visit each one that you linked up here!!

I'm still relatively light in my readership on my blog but someday when I have a good crowd visiting daily, I'm going to do this same thing!

[Leora]

I always love your blog recommendations. Thanks for introducing me to a whole new batch of dad bloggers. Can't wait to check them out!

[Matthew]

I'm with Pattie, I thought you were writing your swan song!

As a past honoree of your daddyblog love-in, I'm looking forward to checking these guys out.

[Henri]

What the fuck no NinjaDad?! Genius will always be unappreciated in its lifetime. Yo man you're gonna jack up my bandwidth because the internet called me the other day and said you are one MetroDad reference away from going stupid big son. Thanks Friend.

[L.A. Daddy]

Muchos Gracias, MetroDaddio!

Oh, crap... Now I gotta go write sharp, witty posts. Damn.

[L.A. Daddy]

Oh, I forgot - Go Dodgers!

[creative-type dad]

Nice finds!

[Gillian]

I just stumbled on this man

ttp://downtothis.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_downtothis_archive.html

and he is such a stand up guy.

[William]

Thanks for the new reads Metro Dad.

[Anne Glamore]

Glad to see the new post-- I was afraid you were suffocating under a huge pile of work.

I'll go check out the dads!

[honglien123]

Let's go OAKLAND!!!

That said, thanks for the additional daddy blog list. As I've said before, I love daddy blogs, if only to get a peep into the mind of the daddy 'cause you know...I don't understand my hubs at all. Like his obsession with zombies for instance.

Although, since I've been reading Henri for the past few weeks maybe I don't want to know. Corndog & Rootbeer rocks y'all, ya better check that sh*t out!

[The Lovechild of MetroDad and Dutch]

Thanks dude! In some weird "I'm not gonna think about it too hard" kinda way, I'm flattered to be your...um...lovechild. (Seriously)

Note to self: time to wheel out the good posts.

[Waya]

I'm definitely going to check these dad bloggers out, thanks for letting us know. It's great to see more and more dad bloggers out there. It's fun to read the perspective of a man/father/husband.

And the Dad who works for LegoLand, oh I'm so there. My boys loved LegoLand!!

[Carol]

Not even sure now how I happened upon your blog, but it IS addicting! I'm a mom of teens and young adults, but I remember the days of four under the age of 6... and ya know, I MISS it!! Gotta say, though, that this is a fun stage too... WAY more fun than I'd expected!

Carol

[Mike]

Dear Metro-hyung,

The Mets have no pitching. They will lose. Sorry.

Don't get on me about the White Sox or the Cubs because I hate them both.

I'm a Rockies man, and yes, I know we suck.

[SuburbanChicagoDad]

Great job with the blog. As a father of 2, I found much in common with many of your stories. Keep up the good work!

[Nomar]

Your Mets are going down like Pedro, MD. Sorry to say that they might even get swept. Too bad.

[CroutonBoy]

What's up with the Mets, man? If they lose any more players they'll have to roll Buckner out on a gurney to cover for them...

That being said, I'm pulling for them....

[Louise]

Thanks for the recommendations, MD. I love reading daddy blogs and hearing the male perspective on parenting. My husband is practically a stay-at-work-dad so it's nice to hear about dads getting involved in parenting.

[mrsfortune]

Dude. As if I needed more blogs to read????

GO TIGERS.

[Ka_Jun]

"has actually peed at a supermarket urinal with his son on his shoulders" Dang, now THAT is skill. I thought I was the only dude to take a leak with the baby on my chest in a Baby Bjorn! Oh, maybe I am, nevermind. Now I can aspire to true greatness! On his shoulders?!?! Impressive. Most impressive. Obi-Wan has taught you well.

[Maniacal]

www.dadsaidmomsaid.blogspot.com

Not only do we have 1 daddy, we got 5!!

GO Yankees! sorry....*cringe*

[jules]

LOVE me some Colecovisoon...and it is LIGHT -Brite I think....not Bright Lites! ha But I feel ya, from a 30 something herself!

LOVE your blog...check mine out!