editorial

1 Comment Posted on parenting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: I Feel Like I’m Getting My Life Back, Part 1

3 years, 8 months.

snail California

Dear Jack,

It’s been a month now since I revealed to you that for the past 3 years of your life, I had been the daddy blogger of Parents.com, known as The Dadabase. I will always be grateful for those years; for the experience and credibility I received as a writer.

I also can’t deny that the supplemental income that came with the job was quite helpful. It helped get our family out of debt and has helped us start saving our down payment on our next house.

Not to mention, would I be gaining any notoreity in the car review world if it weren’t for the platform that writing for a major magazine gave me? Nope.

Just a few days ago, I was invited as one of America’s car review bloggers to cover the big Lexus NX reveal. And ultimately, I have Parents.com to thank for elevating my career and giving me the kind of visibility and connections that live on even after the contract ended.

I thank God for Parents.com seeking me out. I have always considered that a miracle; especially because it happened at a dark time in my life. I am eternally grateful for my 3 years writing for Parents.com and will always think the world of them. I still can’t believe they picked me and kept me all that time.

They indirectly taught me to write and think more professionally. I totally see that now.

Granted, I was never famous. (I was, however, a candidate for both Katie Couric’s show and Steve Harvey’s show. They had their people calling me, halfway trying to recruit me to come on their shows. Ultimately, I don’t think I was “shticky” enough for the character I needed to play for their segments.)

Now that I no longer have a major publication attached to my name, I’m finding myself as a regular guy now; a normal dad who happens to have his own daddy blog.

To Be Continued… 

Dear Jack: I Feel Like I’m Getting My Life Back, Part 2.

 

Love,

Daddy

1 Comment Posted on parenting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

To My Readers, Why I Chose The Name “Family Friendly Daddy Blog”

First off, I want to thank you personally for being one of the readers I am referencing in the title. You don’t have to be spending your time reading what I sayright now; but you are, and I truly appreciate that. You actually linked the link and found yourself here, off the mainstream path.

Family Friendly Daddy Blog

I will admit I was at least curious as to see if I’d lose any followers on Facebook and Twitter after I left Parents.com 2 weeks ago.

Gratefully, I’ve am still gaining followers since the departure, so I’ll take it that people can still appreciate my writing even without the glory of the Parents magazine name in my header. That means a lot to me.

Whereas I’ve been writing directly to my son Jack over the past couple of years, don’t be surprised if you start seeing more “To My Readers” segments; in which I show you what’s going on backstage and behind the scenes here.

IMG_5624

Today I thought it would be a good idea to explain why I chose the name “Family Friendly Daddy Blog” now that I’ve returned back to my original site; as opposed to “The Dadabase.”

I admit I only spent about 47 seconds coming up with the name “Family Friendly Daddy Blog.” It was the first thing to came to mind when trying to figure out how to make myself easily “Google-able” as a daddy blogger and as one who keeps things PG rated.

The phrase “family friendly” also indicates that my blog is not simply a daddy blog, but more of a blog for parents and families.

So “Family Friendly Daddy Blog” is my way of saying when you come to my site, you should expect something family oriented, but specifically written from a male, fatherly perspective.

Another thing you can expect is for my material to be positive.

But also real at the same time… but not too real…

I say that because Facebook can be a bipolar place. I want “Family Friendly Daddy Blog” to be a welcoming exit when you see me pop up while scrolling through your Facebook home page.

Well, that’s it. That’s what “Family Friendly Daddy Blog” is all about and that’s why I felt the new name was a good way to sum it all up.

Again, thanks for being a part of it.

Sincerely,

Nick Shell