Why I Started This Blog (And What I’m Actually Trying to Figure Out)

By Dave  ·  Launch Post  ·  showingupdad.com

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I never planned on starting a first time dad blog. But here we are.

I’m one of the first of my close friends to have a kid.

Which means that over the past few months, people in my circle, friends, golf buddies, have started asking me things. Nothing dramatic, just the kind of questions that come up when someone in your circle goes first…

Every time someone asked, I’d type out a long reply and think: I should just have somewhere to point these guys…

I couldn’t find it. So I’m building it.

I’m not the guy with the answers.

Let me be upfront about something: I have no idea what I’m doing.

I’m a first-time dad. My kid is 8 months old. I’m running on six-ish hours of sleep and probably more coffee than is medically advisable. I’m figuring out fatherhood the same way I figured out my golf swing, lots of trial and error, some decent advice from people who’ve been there, and a lot of moments where I just have to commit to the shot and see what happens.

Scared but excited. Mostly winging it. That’s the honest answer.

I’m not here to tell you how to be a perfect dad. I’m not qualified for that. Nobody is. What I can do is tell you exactly what’s happening in real time what’s working, what’s not, and how I’m trying to stay sane and active while this tiny human completely rewires my life.

The balance thing is real.

Before my son arrived, I played golf on weekends and hit the gym a few days a week. It was easy. I had time. I had energy. I had a schedule that was entirely my own.

Now? None of that is true. And I’m not complaining genuinely, I wouldn’t trade it. But the adjustment is real, and nobody was talking about it honestly. Not in a “I’m struggling” way, but in a “this requires actual strategy” way.

How do you stay active when you’re exhausted? How do you protect a few hours a week for yourself without dropping the ball at home? The honest answer is it only works if you’re pulling your weight everywhere else, doing the research, jumping in without being asked, making sure your wife isn’t carrying the whole mental load while you’re off hitting a seven iron.

I’m working through all of it. I’ll write about all of it.

What you’ll find here.

This blog is three things wrapped into one.

First, it’s honest first-year dad content. The stuff nobody posts on Instagram. The 3am diaper changes, the gear that actually helped, the moments that were harder than expected and the ones that were better. Including what it actually looks like to be a present partner while figuring out fatherhood, not just showing up for your kid, but showing up for your wife too.

Second, it’s a place for active dads. Golf. Gym. Staying active when life gets full. If you’re someone who likes to be outside, playing something, and you’re now also responsible for a small human, this is for you.

Third, it’s something I’m building for myself. My friends keep asking questions and I keep typing the same answers into text messages. It’s time to put it somewhere permanent.

Why “Showing Up Dad”?

Because that’s all I’m trying to do.

Show up on the golf course even when I’m tired. Show up at the gym to stay in shape and clear my head. Show up at 3am when he needs me. Show up emotionally when I don’t know what to say. Show up consistently even when I’m winging it. That’s the whole thing. That’s the whole blog.

If you’re a new dad, or about to be one, or you’re just a guy who loves sport and is figuring out how to stay himself while becoming someone’s father, welcome. You found the right place.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a diaper to change and a tee time to reschedule.

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