15 "DaddyBlogs" worth a visit

When I was organizing my bookmark folders, I realized that among all the "Mommy- blogs" that I read almost daily, I also have a number of "Daddy-blogs" that I also check out regularly. While I times the "testosterone levels" are a bit overwhelming, I still enjoy occasionally getting a view into their different perspectives. What is funny is that very few of these guys have "blogrolls" so it seems that they aren't interested in linking, etc.( I don't believe it as every good blogger wants to share their thoughts!) As I have recently come across a number that caused me to giggle or gasp in admiration, thought I would share them for this week's list:

1. & 2. The View From Here and Real Dads, both by the (in)famous Gunfighter, as macho as they come with his crime-fightin' self, he's a real softie at heart and a conscious and concerned father. The first blog he addresses many other topics than fatherhood, but his family still makes it into this blog on a regular basis. The second is an unabashed celebration of fatherhood.

3. Dad Gone Mad I sympathize with this guy's wife in a lot of his blogs. I read his male perspective and know that she is just shaking her head in frustration. But it does make for a good laugh, especially his solo-Daddy adventures.

4. My Grimm Reality The flip side to Leslie's My Mommy's Place , Dave's blog often tells the same story but from his perspective. You just know that if they don't manage to drive each other crazy, they have a fun marriage! He also does some great takes on fatherhood.

5. Greg's Random Bits Often more about his personal views than family issues, but still he demonstrates a middle-aged father's perspective on a number of issues.

6. View From the Cloud Another Dad's perspective on life, this time refreshingly G-rated, with the effects of the defective X-chromosome that make it so funny for Mom's to read.

7. Riley Central Not only a Dad, but also an elementary school teacher, Damien's better half also has a great MommyBlog Party of Five.

8. Chocolate Makes It Better You gotta love a guy who uses this as his blog tittle! It let's you overlook the swearing!

9. Dadcentric Not just one, but a group of Dad's. Makes for a real wide range of topics especially as they seem to try and one-up one another (as men do...)!

10. MetroDad A serious NYC-er, which means his world is several dimensions away from anything I've ever known. But his angst and frustrations are still things I can relate to and he is funny!

11. Where boys Fear to Tread A stay-at-home Dad's perspective. Most of his comments are from other Dad's, many of them only 1 or 2 words! Viva la difference!

12. Pirate Papa A true anarchist with some interesting views. At times the "pirate style" can be a bit over the top, but it's still a good read!

13. An Open Letter writes an open letter to his son Michael. Touching, funny, slice-of-life moments. (I started journals to my daughters years ago along the same lines, but didn't get past age 4 with either of them.)

14.Dad Daily is a social network where a number of Dads submit blogs. It is generally pretty G-rated and has different member groups. What I like best is the variety of topics that are written about.

15.DadLabs This site has various videos by Dads. Some are really hilarious and a level above YouTube as there seems to be little men like better than playing with their high-tech toys. It's nice to know that even SuperDad has his troubles!


As I often just lurk and don't comment, a few of these fellas may be surprised at their inclusion here. If they check Technorati then I have just outed myself (Hi guys!). Or if you visit and leave a comment, tell them I said "Hello"!

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Lurkers Anonymous

Hi, I'm FA and I'm a Lurker. I first got started doing this when I visited a friend, Jenn in Holland and I was hooked. From there it escalated and I found "myself" in various blogs all over the net. While Jenn reminded me of myself in my early thirties with my initial confusion and wonderment at life in the Netherlands, Soccer Mom in Denial lives the life I might if I had done some things differently. In fact, her handle could be mine as with two girls I was not supposed to be a "Soccer Mom". Life seems to laugh at her just as it does at me and I have spent many an afternoon entertained by her blog entries and thought, "There but for the grace of God...". And then I stumbled onto 'Twas Brillig and got caught up in her Soap Opera Sunday and Flashback Friday entries and I just couldn't stop lurking. I didn't feel that I could comment. Me, who discusses with strangers on the bus or in the shops in any of 3 languages. But I felt odd, just dropping in and giving my opinion. I didn't really belong to this world. But I couldn't stop lurking...

It got really bad one day when I saw all the links Jenn had posted and I couldn't resist finding out who these people were...Gunfighter has such a wonderful male point of view and I share so much of his political orientation that I would love meeting him in person. Next I followed Jenn's links read what Anno had been blogging. Again I read so much that resonated that she could be my sister. Especially her blogs on her ex-pat experiences are things I can relate to. Maybe in the future I can join with her and update how things have changed since her visits. But in any case her writing captivated me. Then there was the fellow Texan Shelly who has such a similar childhood that I almost passed out from deja-vu overload when she blogged about her piggy bank. I had that piggy bank! Reading Worker Mommy makes me almost jealous at the calmness and creativity she has in her approach to life. Well, okay, I am jealous, but it doesn't stop me from reading and I hope to get up the courage to comment soon. She seems to have a really neat bunch of blog-friends that I also been lurking at.

I know, this is really getting out of hand now. Especially when I find myself identifying with a few R-rated blogs such as the ones by Cathouse Teri and Crystal. I consider them my voyeuristic pleasures. Ah to have the freedom of expression these ladies have! Though I'm not sure I would want to live their adventures, I get serious pleasure out of reading about them and regularly ROFLOL times.

And then when I need to be reminded that no matter how frustrated and unhappy I am in my life, I really have it great, I turn to Sweet and Salty Kate. Her heartbreaks and courage facing them have made for riveting reading that I have only been able to take in small doses they have been so moving. She has made me reach out with my mind and prayers and some day I hope to have something profound enough to say in a comment to her.

Yes, I am a Lurker. I should say Recovering Lurker. I have taken the first steps. I have made a few comments. I have started a blog. I have entered a contest and responded to a meme. I have now made a few links. I hope in the future to have a blogroll and pictures an buttons and...

As we say in LA, one blog at a time.