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Dear Bluey (and Family),
Thank God you’re back.
It’s been a while and I have to say, you’re a welcome sight for sore eyes. Not only because I’m going back through the newborn period with Bub Number Two, but due to a very special gap I’ve noticed you fill.
What I call the ‘Good Dad Gap’.
I don’t mean a gap where I simply chuck on another episode and let it be the dad. No, no, dear, Bluey, I mean the fact you fill a very large gap that seems to exist on TV and in the media.
The dad who is hands-on, involved AND competent at what he is doing.
Now, Bluey I know you’re only six, however, we both know how seemingly infinite Netflix, Amazon Prime, iTunes, and all the other streaming services are with shows. But, the thing is, none seem to have a fatherly role model that I actually see myself in, or want to be more like.
So, you can imagine my surprise when I first turned on this children’s show and discovered a dad that was both like me, and what I aspired to be. In case you can’t, picture your dad, Bandit, staring wide-eyed with a massive grin across his face.
What started out as a kid’s show suddenly became a show that helped and entertained all involved.
Especially for me as a dad, because I don’t know if I’ve ever seen another kind of father like this on mainstream TV.
If you get a moment, please make sure to take a bit of time to thank your dad (and mum) from me. I know it can be tricky to know what to say, so I thought a couple of sentences within this letter might help.
Thank you for showing that there are dads out there who want to be – and are – involved in their kids lives. For showing we can be silly, have fun, make (and learn from) mistakes we all make as parents.
Bluey, don’t forget to tell your mum and dad thank you for showing how important imaginative play is to build up confident, connected and creative kids (as well as parents and families). For how it can bring you together and remind you of what is really important.
(Especially after a terrible day. While that first ten seconds of pretending to be a dinosaur wearing ice skates may feel forced, you can’t help but smile and feel a lot bloody better if you keep at it).
Bandit and Chilli, thanks so much for showing trust in each and being a team – even when you’re a little bit frustrated…or incredibly frustrated. Every family knows just important it is for us to feel we are backed up by those around us.
(And not shying away from how tiring it is to be a parent, regardless of who you are).
Thank you for bringing to (animated) life a positive role model that dads around the world can both see themselves in and keep being inspired by. Because, if there’s something we definitely need more of, it’s positive male role models right now.
Yours with great thanks and high fives,
Dan
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Previously published here and reprinted with the author’s permission.
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