I have a dream that one day I will overhear two Dad’s discussing the pros and cons of controlled crying.
I have a dream that one day I will walk through my local park and see a circle of Dad’s and bubs singing Row, Row, Row Your Boat.
I have a dream that one day I will walk into story time and all of the Dad’s will join in the songs harmonising perfectly.
I have a dream that one day the growing army of Stay at Home Dad’s in my locale will acknowledge one another with more than a grunt.
I have a dream that one day the two Buggaboo’s that are biting at my ankles will be steered by two Dad’s power walking to an arts and crafts workshop with their little ones.
So let Dad’s hang out from the local cafes of St Kilda to the many good book shops of Elwood and the very nice but sometimes expensive toy shops of Balaclava. And when this happens, when dads just hang out together purely because they can we will be, erm, normal I suppose, normal at last! (rapturous applause ringing out in own head)
I felt a little bit like a revolutionary when I woke up this morning, somewhere between Che Guevera and Martin Luther King. And so after having my cornflakes, even revolutionaries have to eat, I set off about town sticking up little notes because that’s what revolutionaries do. I used some fancy stationary because we all know that men can’t resist nice paper and squeezed in above Natalie and her love of dogs.
“Stay at Home Dad’s Group
There seems to be a growing army of local Stay at Home Dad’s. I was wondering if anyone is keen to get together for a weekly catch up to talk sport and reminisce about the good old days. Do it for the kids!”
I left a suitably anonymous email address and I look forward to sifting through the wildly inappropriate emails I am bound to receive from the many colourful characters that call St Kilda home and pick out the odd interested Dad while I’m at it. Now I know that Martin Luther King was all about equality and essentially I’m talking about segregation but I could count on one hand the number of times I’ve witnessed two Dad’s pushing their prams together and that does not add up.
I see countless Stay at Home Dad’s every day and they seem to be breeding. With a long bleak winter ahead it seems silly not to try and make a little network of Dad’s that if they choose to can meet up, let their kids play together, have an adult conversation (or not) and be Dad’s together.
I will of course make them all sign a disclaimer stating that I can blog about it and divulge every little bit of gossip they give me on their wives, mistresses and secretaries just to keep you all in the loop, I would never go behind your backs #honorarymum. I’ll keep you posted.
As always linking up with Jess at Essentially Jess
dad down under 
Good for you! I was only thinking recently how the tides are indeed turning. When my miss 7 began swimming lessons there wasn’t a Dad to be seen anywhere, yet now as Miss 4 swims away, the younger groups are full of Dads. I hope you get a few responses!
Where abouts are you Jodi? It seems to differ from suburb to suburb, some are more conservative than others, but anything goes in St Kilda : ) Thanks for stopping by
Oooh I look forward to reading the dad goss!
You know me I wont hold back Rhian
I hope you get a few genuine responses and make sure to share the weird and wonderful ones that you’re sure to get from around that area.
You know the area Kyla? Yes I am sure I will get some interesting ones,that will make for a chuckle if nothing else. Thanks Kyla
My in-laws are in Elwood so we know it pretty well. Hubby isn’t a stay at home dad but it’s hard to find people at the same stage of life, he’s always saying that it would be nice to talk to a bloke who gets him putting family first – as the first of our friends to have kids it’s been weird for him I think. I was tempted to set you two (& the little men) up for a play date when we’re down next weekend but it’s a flying visit for us – in Thurs PM then back on a plane home just after lunch on Sat.
That’s a shame Kyla, next time maybe, just don’t call it a date ; )
I hope you find some daddy buddies to play with soon. It must be so hard when you are surrounded mostly by mums. We had dad come along to our playgroup a few times. He knew us but still found it a bit weird being the only guy. Lucky for him my hubby worked where we had playgroup ( at the church) so this guy would always ask hopefully if Tim was in the office that day.
Its not hard hanging out with Mums, on the whole your remarkably good company, it would be nice to have a little balance though. And I’m doing it as much for the other Dad’s who all look a little lonely as for myself. Hopefully I get a few volunteers. Thanks as always for commenting!
My Husband would have been in for sure – He is at home with our 3, but unfortunately St Kilda is just a little too far from our farm!
We could have him linking up on Skype perhaps Jo? Looking forward to reading your blog, i dream about escaping the city. Thanks for commenting
I hope you get some takers!! Great idea, lets hope it catches on nation wide, SAHD’s need it I think! My husband would be a SAHD in a second if I actually had a decent enough paying job! Karen x
Thanks Karen, I will keep you posted, I feel very lucky to be a SAHD
I’m curious to see how many propositions you get from stay at home mums! ha!! x Aroha
It would be nice if a few did Aroha, conversation would be a bit more balanced and that’s no bad thing : ) thanks for commenting.
So how did u go? Any takers?
Not a sausage Bachelor Mum, this Day 2. If I get to day 5 I will resort to a sandwich board. Thanks for stopping by
House Husbands Unite!I personally look forward to reading some posts on future ”daddy get togethers.” Maybe title it ”Daddy Diaries” Hope it happens soon for you!
Thanks Jessi, I like that name, might have that! You know I will spill the beans, no holding back around here
You have to keep me posted on responses, and despite those few who think you are actually talking about something else, I hope you get some dads in the same boat as you! I gotta say my husband would KILL to be in your shoes, just a shame he earns more than 3 times I do from my writing from home! Em x
Thanks Em, sounds like you’ve got a keeper there! I love being a SAHD and have a good network of people to meet, it’s as much for the other local dads that seem to be doing it all solo.
What a great idea !! I hope you get a good response and begin a network that will keep you all sane and your children all happily playing together while you contemplate the latest AFL/NRL scandal !
Have the best day !
Me
#IBOT visitor
EPL scandals for me, mind you they’re all the same aren’t they sex, drugs and, well that’s about it. Thank you for commenting Me!
A great idea! Hope you find lots of Dad’s to join in. Love the disclaimer – very clever xx
Thank you Josefa, I’m a man of my word and if I find any dirt on these potential scoundrels you will be the first to hear about it. Thanks for reading!
Reckon there’s a ton of dads like that out there – it’s just that they don’t talk, blog or promote it like you have the ability to 🙂 I happen to be married to a tone death row the boater – it’s pain but joy at exactly the same time
I reckon you are right Pip, heaps of other dads in the same position and fortunately I know no shame and will hunt them down. Thanks for the comment
If we weren’t on the other side of the country I’d totally make my husband email you! Living in rural WA it’s even harder to be a SAHD! He’s started taking the boys to playgroup – so now I get the gossip of the town from him and not the other way around 🙂 But it’s a great idea – there must be more SAHD’s around here than we know – they just don’t advertise it as much.
Hey Ro, he must stick out like a sore thumb round your way good on him for doing it. I think men would rather suffer through something than actually reach out and ask for a bit of support, hopefully I can change that in my little world. Thanks for stopping by
Good on you. I often think we should do the same thing for couple friends with kids that wanna go camping once a year and have BBQ’s in summer. Kids really change your social life no matter how hard you resist, it’s plain to see that you really just want to hang with other parents.
(Sorry pre baby friends)
Awesome disclaimer. I can relax now
I am slowly learning to swallow my pride Kassey. There’s a heap of dads round my way and they all seem to be doing it fairly tough on their own and it doesn’t make sense. Hopefully I can get a little something started.
Fantastic idea Matt! I hope you get a great response. SAHDs are indeed a growing army! Having attended playgroups when the boys are young, I do remember a few dads who came along but felt very awkward being there.
All the best 🙂
Thanks Sabeen, I’m not usually the proactive type but it seems like a pretty achievable goal. Lets hope one or two come forward. All the best
It is such a shame you are not in Sydney – my hubby would have emailed you!
Hi there,
I just sent you an email cause my husband is a stay at home dad! He has always wanted to find other dads in the same situation to have a laugh so this sounds perfect.. we have a 4 year old girl and he’s loving it.. I look forward to your response!
Fiona
Thanks Fiona, i’ll have a look