Most parent bloggers – including myself – would say they don’t do it for money or fame. But there’s something lovely about being recognised as not completely awful. There may be no red carpet, no gold statuette, no tearful acceptance speech, but it’s nice to know someone out there enjoys reading my random and frequently incoherent scribbles.
I was nominated for a MADS Award (for Mum and Dad bloggers) earlier this year, the first time in, well, a very long time that I’ve been put up for an award grander than my 50-metre swimming badge. I won’t lie: I was chuffed, even though I’m sure only one person who wasn’t a blood relative voted for me – whoever it was, thank you – and I failed to trouble the scorers when it came to handing out the … what do they give the winners, anyway? A golden dummy? A Tommee Tippee non-spill cup engraved with the URL of the recipient’s blog?
Anyhow, I allowed myself a little smile at the time, happily posted the ‘I wuz nominated’ badge on my home page, and thought no more of it.
Hang on – that’s me!
I had a pleasant surprise the other day when I clicked on a link taking me to Tots 100’s ranking of their Top 25 Dad Bloggers. I wondered how many of the names on their list I would recognise. Quite a lot, as it turned out. What I wasn’t expecting was to find the words ‘Slouching towards Thatcham’ written against the number four. (I even had to click on the link just to make sure it wasn’t someone else with the same blog name.)
Me? Fourth? That’s, like, almost a podium position. Blow me down with a feather.
Of course, I’m unchanged by my sudden success. Other than the visit to the Aston Martin garage. And the 24-carat gold chain I’m now wearing that weighs almost as much as my eldest son. But other than that I’m still the same uncertain and insecure person, always questioning whether I’m actually any good at this blogging lark, let alone as a father and husband.
Honestly, that’s not false modesty speaking. What it is, really, is my true motivation for blogging. I just want to be better, as a blogger and as a dad. And if being recognised by my peers and the likes of Tots 100 is an additional and morale-boosting bonus that makes me feel a bit better about myself for a few days, I’ll happily take that.
Anyway, you can read the full Tots 100 ranking of the Top 25 Dad bloggers here. I have no hesitation in saying that it’s a good, diverse list. Many of them are genuinely funny, original and insightful writers. Go and give them a read. But I’d love it if you popped back here too. Ta muchly.