I Have Been Shortlisted For Dad Blog Of The Year 2019 With Vuelio

A few days ago I saw a tweet that tagged me to say that I was a finalist in the Vuelio Online influencer Awards 2019 in the Dad blog of the year category and as per usual this surprised me. After five years of blogging I am still being recognised for my writing on my blog, which if I’m honest always baffles me.

Something that I started to just pass the time away when our twin girls were babies, and we of course rarely if ever went out, turned into something way bigger than I ever thought it would. I still rack my brain now to try to work out why anybody would read the ramblings of a dad of five children who has come from a very uneducated dysfunctional childhood to adult life that at times scared me and I have been living it.

If I was to and try put my finger on what makes my blog just slightly popular, I truly believe there are certain ingredients that make a blog interesting to read, but the one overwhelming factor for me that makes it a success has to be honesty in your writing and if I have ever written posts about myself or my life I have always tried to tell it how it has happened. If you are a follower of my blog will know at times it has not been pretty, but I have believed with so much passion that if you are going to open up your life online then don’t hold back and I believe I never have. Maybe that is what has resonated with so many people over the last five years. My honesty. Well, only you lot can tell me the answer to that.

So here I am. A finalist for the third time in the Vuelio Online Influencer Awards for 2019. I have never felt anything but pride in being shortlisted in any awards but for me the Vuelio awards are without doubt for me the most important ones. It’s the one that matters. Vuelio as an organisation is the benchmark that all bloggers should set their standards by. I certainly have.

This year like any previous year the competition in the Dad Blog category the competition is fierce so just to be included is in itself an awesome achievement for me. The other three finalists who I consider to be good friends are truly quality bloggers. The best of the best. There is John from Dad Blog UK, Tim from Slouching Towards Thatcham and Dave from The DadVenturer. Even being named in their company is a huge honour for me. Good luck to John,Tim and Dave on the awards night.

This year my intention is to attend the awards in London in November. I have never been before but that is down to me and the fact that these sort of events are completely out of my comfort zone and my nerves seem to always get the better of me. This year I have decided to overcome my fears and lack of confidence and attend. No doubt time will tell if I bottle it before the event.

Finally my blog has been my passion for the last 5 years and it has helped me as a person to be more confident and definitely more self assured. It has helped me to lay to rest so many of my ghosts of my childhood. My blog has in many ways been my saviour and I believe made me a better more understanding father, husband, son and person to those around me.

The big question is of course, will I win? If I’m entirely honest with myself I don’t think I will win, but who knows, stranger things have happened! Maybe it’s my turn. Time will tell.