Almost everyone has heard of the mommy blog — online communities where WAHMs (work-at-home moms) and doting mothers swap stories about their kids, careers and day-to-day. But more and more often, dads are joining in on the trend, developing online hubs where they can discuss everything from diaper rash to DIY tree houses.
SEE ALSO: 6 dad-centric Instagram accounts you must follow
Dad blogs tend to cover a wide variety of subjects, but they aren't so different from their mommy blog counterparts — there's ample discussion about the best baby formula, advice for school assignments, a little bit of frustration-venting and more than a few adorable family photos. There are blogs focused on every typeof father, too: stay-at-home dads, the technology-obsessed, fantasy football fanatics, etc.
Below are just a few of the best dad blogs out there. Check them out just in time for Father's Day.
1. DesignerDaddy
DesignerDaddy is a popular dad blog created and maintained by Brent Almond, an award-winning graphic designer and illustrator living with his husband and five-year-old son JJ.
Almond blogs about "getting creative with fatherhood," and covers everything from teaching your children about important life lessons (like this great read on teaching kids about gender equality) to tongue-in-cheek posts with a more humorous edge. Additionally, he writes about design and DIY (from a dad's perspective) and pop culture. With just the right blend of snark, wit and genuinely heartfelt advice, this blog is a must-read for new dads, non-traditional families and, really, anyone struggling with the roller coaster that is fatherhood.
2. 8BitDad
This hodgepodge blog appeals to the "modern parent" as a source for news, reviews, opinions and fatherhood in general. With more than 1,400 articles, the blog is a wonderful resource for virtually any parent. Geared toward self-professed "geeky parent-type folks," 8BitDad's authors consist of seven contributors, dubbed the "founding fathers."
Call us geeks, nerdy, or tech-nostalgic fathers, 8BitDad is a site for all lovers of the old school. We share parenthood news stories, science, studies, opinions, lists and videos from around the internet. We do Q&As with some other geeky parent type folks, and talk about our own kids because they’re special snowflakes. —8BitDad bio
From pop culture commentary on the "dad bod" phenomenon to nostalgia for the good old days of old-school video gaming, the posts range from semi-serious to laugh-out-loud funny — and occasionally address somewhat stinging truthsabout fatherhood in an honest, practical and just plain readable way. It's an easy blog to get lost down a rabbit hole reading for hours on end. If you just can't get enough, follow 8BitDad on Twitter or check out their podcast.
3. Out With The Kids (OWTK)
OWTK focuses on parenting humor and photography, with everything from ahelpful recipe box to ideas for frugal fun to some truly great family photosdisplayed online for the world to see and collectively "aww" over.
Author Jeff Bogle writes about and photographs his two daughters (and experiences with fatherhood), and frequently posts about the "kindie rock music world," weighing in on the current state of kid's music in his postings andpodcast. He's also a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post on kid-focused issues, parenting and more.
4. How to Be a Dad
Another blog that adds a humorous touch to some of the "the-only-way-to-handle-this-is-to-laugh-about-it" aspects of parenthood (such as surviving ateething infant), How to Be a Dad focuses largely on the personal experiences ("commentary, experiments and failures") of authors Charlie Capen and Andy Herald.
If you were looking for a website telling you how to be a dad… You didn’t find it. We aren’t experts in "dadology." We aren’t even sure such a thing exists. We’re just here to tell you that being a parent sometimes means experiencing things without an authority, letting love and humor get you through. For those other times, we recommend a sturdy helmet. —howtobeadad.com; Charlie & Andy, The Dads
While there's a fair share of Buzzfeed-style GIF listicles, humorous, curmudgeonly takes on "kids' terrible slang these days" and pretty hilarious instructional diagrams, there's also some pretty serious content on the blog. Worth checking out for anyone looking for a laugh and possibly a few answers to some of the more puzzling aspects of parenting.
5. Dad or Alive
Adrian Kulp's blog — with the same name as his 2013 book — Dad or Alive focuses on the "unexpected confessions of a stay-at-home dad." Kulp's writings take on quite a personal voice; spend half an hour on the blog, and you'll feel as if you know his family. Kulp does a phenomenal job of blending his personal experiences with utility advice, as evidenced by posts such as "Decorating a Nursery using ETSY: These Entrepreneurs Are On Fire."
Kulp also conducts interviews with big names — the likes of Drew Brees andJay Larson — about how they handle parenthood. Check it out for a new and refreshingly honest perspective on being a dad in today's world.
6. Mr. Dad
Mr. Dad takes more of a "Dear Abby" approach to the dad blog — many of the posts here are formatted in Q&A-style and provide invaluable advice for dads and parents in general. In truth, the site is really more of a "parenting resource" than a straightforward blog. Expecting fathers, first-year parents, single dads, military families and even grandparents will find a cornucopia of advice and support on the site.
Armin Brott, the site's creator, is a bestselling author of eight books dedicated to fatherhood and host of “Positive Parenting,” a weekly radio program that airs in San Francisco.
