My Blog Has Just Turned 2 Years old

A couple of weeks ago my blog turned two years old. It’s frightening to think that I have been writing posts and blogging for just over two years now.

When I started out it really was just a hobby, my little corner of the internet to write down my stories of family and work life.

I started as I have written before, because I broke my wrist at work and this consequently left me with nothing to do. So my wife, Emily, who blogs at Twin Mummy and Daddy, helped me to start a blog.

I have to be totally honest. I never in my wildest dreams thought my blog would be where it is today and if I’m honest I can’t explain it either.

Some things that have happened over the last two years I am immensely proud of which are as follows.

82 weeks ago I thought up a feature for my blog called Brilliant Dad Feature. I never for one minute thought that it would still be going 82 weeks later, but it is and it’s as strong as ever. I have even had one dad vlog his responses. I thought up the idea while putting my then three year old twin daughters to bed one night. I will be eternally grateful to all the dads that have taken part and given their time so generously without whom it would never work.

I’ve been named in a number of top 10 lists, but there are two that I am particularly proud of. The first is the rise global parentclub leader board where this week I climbed to number 1. When I first joined I was happy with top 50, now if only for a week I’m number 1!

The second is easily my proudest moment. I was named in the top 10 dad bloggers in the UK by Vuelio. This is probably the best list to be on because it’s an industry list and to be on it for one year is, well, just awesome! Amazingly this also took my blog to a different level with working with brands and opportunities that have come my way since.

This leads me on to the fact that blogging has brought me so many wonderful opportunities that even now surprises me when I get some emails. It’s very humbling and makes me proud that my blog has some sort of social presence. That large brands want to work with me.

When I started it was pipe dreams to think that large brands would work with me and two years down the line I am getting many approaches.

Over the last two years I have met some amazing bloggers and made friends with lots of great people. The love and support that bloggers give to each other through sharing and caring has always been awe inspiring. I have been lucky enough to have been mentioned by some bloggers and one person who has always encouraged me and this definitely helps you carry on because let’s be honest we are never sure what we are writing is any good, is John Adams at Dad Blog UK. Thank you John for all your encouragement and kind words. You will never know how much I appreciate it, and how much it means to me. This year John did a vlog recommending me as dad blogger to follow. This totally overwhelmed me. The fact that somebody that I see as the best dad blogger in the UK today should say such nice things about me.

One of the more bizarre things I have done in my blogging life was on Instagram with three other dads, Alan from OMG It’s a Girl, Rod from Modern Dad Pages and Nomadidaddy. I’m not really sure how I got involved, but we did a ten day challenge of #dadsdoyoga. It was a mad idea, but totally brilliant fun. In fact in a few days time we doing it all again over 15 days and I’m sure it will be so much fun. Becoming friends with these guys is without question been a big highlight of my blogging life.

There are two other bloggers that I’d like to mention. I met them when I started blogging and I’m still friends with them both to this day. They are Sarah from Run Jump Scrap and Martyn from Inside Martyns Thoughts. Thank you both for all your help and support over the last two years.

I have also been published by the Huffington Post for the first time which made me very proud and with a post I am particularly proud of, 21 years of parenting.

I run a LINKY on a Friday called THAT FRIDAY LINKY with my wife Emily, and I am proud of the success that it has achieved and how many loyal bloggers link up every week, thank you to you all.

I have been very fortunate to have 5 children which a lot of this blog is about. The trials and tribulations of being the best dad I can. Thank you for letting me write about your lives. My dream is one day you will read all of this and it will bring a smile to your faces. Love you all so very much xx

The biggest help for my little blog achieving so much in such a short time is my wife Emily. She has listened to me moan and complain, she reads my posts before publishing them to see if they are any good and edits  them for me. Thank you. I love you so much and with all my heart xx

Finally I have to say that to achieve what I achieve takes some simple, but effective rules that I believe you have to stick to. I post everyday and like to think that it is good quality and occasionally excellent. It’s engaging and people see some of themselves in my writing. I always knew where I wanted my blog to be and to achieve this, the simple fact is it’s hard work and you have to work hard every day at making it the best you can. Thank you to anybody that has taken the time to read any of my posts. I really appreciate you taking the time to do that.

The future. Where will my blog be in the third year? I try not to make too many plans, although I do have some objectives I would like to achieve. The first is already happening. I have moved to WordPress and now own all my content. This was very important to me and in mid November there will be a whole new design of the blog. Something that is exciting that will be happening is I am involved with a twins online magazine in America as a major contributor so being a dad of twins means I’m really looking forward to that.