Dress Like A Dad | Double TWO Quality Shirt Makers

I don’t have a very stylish wardrobe. My usual wardrobe consists of the one pair of jeans that I own combined with a handful of different t-shirts, shirts and hoodie. My look is usually finished off with a pair of converse that I owned forever. It could be worse though, I could still be wearing a suit to work.

I don’t get me wrong, I like the way I dress but it could be better.

So when Double TWO asked me to check out their website, I jump at the chance to get some new clobber. I’d briefly had a look at the website in the past but again, never ventured any further because my style of dress isn’t very varied and change scares me. Having been on the website only a few minutes I was wondering to myself why I’d not been on it sooner. I found myself on a clicking frenzy, adding several items in my basket, all at a good price too. It’s not just Double TWO products either, there are some pretty big brands on there too, including Bar Harbour, Paradigm and Old Salt, just to name a few.

As I said earlier in the post, I don’t own many clothes and the ones I do own are all the same sort of stuff. I don’t always see it as a bad thing. I just see it as I’ve got the point in my life where I know what I like. With this spirit in mind, I thought I’d kit myself with the stylish new shirt. When I combined the shirt with my usual pair of jeans, I do look pretty good, If I do say so myself. I’m not sure others would agree.

Have a look and see for yourself at what I ordered. What do you think? If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I loved a good checked shirt.

Dressing well as a father and a husband requires a little extra effort. There is no denying this. Having children and becoming a stay-at-home dad has definitely changed how much effort I put into my appearance.

I have always maintained the attitude that I don’t care what other people think about me but after experiences what this brand has to offer, it’s evident that I do. Our business is as big as it’s ever been and it’s only going to get bigger in the few year so it feels like appearance is important now more than ever. I may not have to wear a shirt and tie to work anymore like I did when I was in my 9-5 job, but I have come to the conclusion that I still look smart and relaxed at the same time.

If you have a minute, go and check out the Double TWO website and let me know what you think in the comments below

*This post, even though it was sponsored by Double TWO, it is my honest opinion. Hope you enjoyed it!*

I Don't Blog To Make Money.

When I start blogging, a lot of people around me asked for a reason why I wanted to start a blog. Interestingly not everyone has the same reason. I’ve asked myself this question a lot recently after thinking about what I want to get out of blogging in 2019.

When people hear the term ‘blogging’ the initial assumption is that a blogging platform needs to be a website that belongs to you. However, sites like Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram, etc are also blogs. These sites let you solve the purpose of blogging if you decided to use them in that way.

I started blogging back in June 2017 while I was on my Seventeen-week Shared Parental leave. My original reasons for wanting to blog were; I wanted to share the things I get right, the things I get wrong and the things I learn about what It means to be a Dad. I also wanted to give a Dad’s perspective on the world of parenting and also to stop myself going completely insane. Other reasons included wanting to have an online journal that I could look back on and be able to access from anywhere and of course, to make money.

Since then, however, other aspects of my life have changed so much over the last eighteen months that my reasoning for wanting to blog is now no longer the same as they were when I first started out. The biggest change is around the aspect of making money.

I am lucky enough to call a lot of bloggers ‘friends’ all of whom blog for a living and that’s awesome. It’s awesome because their content is amazing, they’re brilliant at what they do and I look forward to reading their latest post but my frame of mind no longer revolves around the aspect of making money through blogging.

I’ve touched on it in previous posts that I’ve written and I’m going to touch on it again now. I have suffered a lot with my own mental health in the last couple of years and blogging has gone a long way in helping me cope with that. Being a part of a community that’s as friendly and inviting as the one I am apart of is worth more to me than any amount of money I could have earned.

Spending the last two years waiting around for the antidepressant to kick in and solve all my problems haven’t done me any favourites. To coincide with this new batch that I’m taking, I have also made some significant lifestyle changes including a new daily routine, a new diet and a new positive frame of mind. My latest posts talk a bit more about these changes and the reasoning behind them so please go and check them out.

• A change is as good as a rest.
• Stay active has stopped me from going insane.
• Vegan from my head To-Ma-Toes.
• I’m a stay-at-home dad who doesn’t stay at home.

When I look ahead to 2019 I really want these changes to reflect in my writing style and the way my posts are structured but more importantly the way my blog looks and feels. I am hoping you’ve noticed a change already.

Next year will be another year of change for us as Olivia will be starting full-time school and Robyn will be preparing to go to nursery. This means that I’ll be looking ahead to what my next step will be and I want you all to come on that journey with me.

All that being said, If a brand wants to get in touch I’m hardly going to turn them away. Yes, being a dad and staying home with the girls is one of the most important parts of me (and certainly takes up the most time), it is not the only part. Like other stay-at-home parents I know, having that creative outlet that gives you a sense of purpose is something that is important to have.

Maybe I’ll get more work now brands know I’m not blogging for the money. Who knows?

 

Do you blog/ vlog? What is your reason? Do let me know in the comments below. Don’t forget to share this article with your blogger friend and ask their reason for blogging.

I'm A Stay-At-Home Dad Who Doesn't Stay At Home

Are you looking for a hatchback with SUV looks but without the extra costs? Then I think I’ve found the car for you.

Unless you are one of those few magical unicorn people who don’t have to worry about putting on weight you’re probably looking for different ways to stay active, even when you spend most of your time at home and even when you do go out you tend to have a little person trotting along next to you.

I’m not big on exercising, I’d much rather be curled up on the sofa, working on my computer or binge-watching something on Netflix but I know that when I do stay active, I have more energy and just feel better overall. This is why I try to get out of the house as much as possible. I have found that getting out of the house every day not only stops myself and the kids from being bored but it’s also helped a lot with my own mental health. I feel more positive, more motivated and more inspired to try new things.

The All-New Ford Fiesta Active rufty-tufty version of the UK’s best-selling new car and the latest addition to the compact crossover crowd. Think of it like this; If a standard Fiesta put on a pair of hiking boots and went trekking through the mud it would look like this car.

To get to know the car a bit better I teamed up with Evans Halshaw Ford at Batley, who kindly invited me down to test drive one of the cars for a few days. I have always been a massive lover of Ford as a brand and I have only ever driven Ford cars so when an opportunity to get up close and personal with a new model comes along, I am only too happy to help.

To give the Fiesta Active a more chunky off-road feel, Ford has made some ‘subtle’ changes to the car to make it the ‘Active’ model. It’s just a tad higher, has increased ride height, a slightly wider track and rough road suspension. All this results in a more robust, urban look. Along with the new styling, there are some features that make a big difference to this little urban crossover, such as;

• Selectable Drive Modes: Eco, Normal, and Slippery
• Rough Road Suspension including increased ride height
• Rain sensing wipers & auto-dimming rearview mirrors
• Black roof rails
• Rear view camera with rear parking sensors
• Ford SYNC 3 with 8” touchscreen, DAB Radio, Emergency Assistance, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 2 x USB sockets
• B&O Premium Audio System with 360° sound System specification with 10-Speakers

I’d always go for the Active B&O, if only for the exquisite audio system and the 8.0-inch touchscreen (it’s only 6.5 inches in the entry-level car).

Now, who doesn’t need features like this on a car? With the increased ride height, rough road suspension and urban styling you certainly get more of an off-road, rugged, can take on anything feel when you’re out and about in this car. It’s a pretty decent cruiser on the motorway or doing the school but it’s definitely more at home going off-road, but only just.

There’s no four-wheel drive but the Active does offer three driving modes; Normal, Eco and Slippery, which tweaks the car’s traction control to give more grip on mud, snow and ice. Useful on those few days of the year when extreme weather makes driving difficult, or if you live in a more rural area. Plus the parking sensors and a rearview camera are a bonus when you have a kid winging in the backseat distracting you.

And with a good-sized boot, you won’t be short of space for the families hiking boots, camping gear and tents.

 

I’ve been driving around in this car for the last few days and like I said earlier, you definitely get an ‘it can take on anything’ feel when you’re driving it. It somehow feels tougher than the standard car and I’m not sure why. Is it because I’ve driven this car at the point in my life where I’m making more of a conscious effort to be active, to lead a healthier lifestyle and look after my general well being? Maybe? I’m not sitting around the house as much and getting up and out the door at a respectable time instead of having those lazy mornings in the house.

Most dads are looked up to as the big and strong superhero in their kids’ lives but how can we be big and strong if we’re never active? We can’t let our little offspring keep us from being big and strong, no way! This car has definitely been a reflection of my ever-changing mindset while I’ve been with it. I’m just not sure it would be the car for me.

I’ve never seen or driven a Fiesta like this before but then the Fiesta has never had to face the threat of a dramatically expanding small SUV sector before. This is Ford’s response and with the KA and Focus getting the same treatment, it’ll be interesting to see how buyers react.

Does this trendy variant make sense? In all honesty, I’m not sure it does but if you want a more interesting breed of Fiesta, then getting Active might be worth a thought.

 

*This post, even though it was sponsored by Evans Halshaw, it is my honest opinion. I hope you enjoyed it!

Vegan From My Head To-Ma-Toes

So, If you’ve following me on Instagram you’ll be aware that we’ve decided to take the plunge into veganism.

Having spoken to several people and reading an endless number of blog posts on the subject, there seems to be a variety of different approaches that people take in order to achieve the end result of being 100% vegan. Some take a more staggered approach by going vegetarian first. Some take a little longer and go pescatarian (fish only) then vegetarian. Others simply introduce more vegan based meals into their weekly food plan (meat free Mondays being the example) and are happy with that. Which is completely fine.

However, I am more of a ‘all or nothing’ kind of guy so we’re taking the ‘dive right in’ approach. I am pretty sure we’ll make some mistakes along the way but as long as we learn from them, I think we’ll be OK.

I use to think that being vegetarian/ vegan was just about eating salad but after watching a few documentaries and doing my research, I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s definitely an ideology that speaks to me and the truth is; it’s actually quite fun.

| How do you know if someone is vegan? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you.

I’m anticipating there being some pitfalls like maybe I’ll have a bad day and dive headfirst into a pile of kebab meat or maybe sneak some pigs in blankets at Christmas.

Transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, at the moment seems like a very daunting thought but is it the case that the idea of a big lifestyle change is a lot scarier than actually doing it? For us, It’s not just about the obvious benefits of a vegan lifestyle but rather the effect animal products have on our health and environment. Once I’d taken the time to open my eyes to the real effects animal products have on our lives, that thought just stuck with me and I feel now, there’s no going back.

Change isn’t easy but it’s possible and I’m now looking ahead and thinking all the new and delicious foods there are to try rather than thinking about the foods I’m giving up. I’ve been quite surprise at how many options there really are. Some of my favourite foods are actually vegan anyway. We’ve even veganized some of our favourite meals. I’m not worry about the changes we’re making, I’m excited about them!

As far as feedback goes, it’s been nothing but positive and the comments on social media have been amazing. For that, I am truly thankful. However, It does feels like society isn’t ready for this rapped rise of veganism and it’s still met with a far amount scepticism with some idea’s on the subject being a little behind the times.

Our plan for now is to focus on making one change at a time to make it feel quite natural. While we’ve got the ‘dive right in’ attitude, I feel like it’s still important not to go to fast and decide on a method that works best for us and the best part is, we’re doing it together.

 

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you gone vegan and succeeded or failed? What motivated you try it in the first place? Any hints, tips or advice you can share is always welcomed. Let me know in the comments below

Staying Active Has Stopped Me From Going Insane (Almost).

We stay-at-parents know we are blessed to be home with our little ones. Especially being a stay-at-home dad. I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count the amount of dads who would love to be in my position (or at least that’s what they tell me). This doesn’t mean we aren’t faced with the challenge of not just surviving but actually thriving while surrounded by biscuit crumbs, Peppa Pig and laundry that multiplies every single time your back is turned.

Every parent is faced with challenges on a daily basis but today I want to look at the challenge of staying sane as a stay-at-home dad.

After giving up a job that I’d not been happy doing for such a long time, I was so excited to switch gears and stay home with a then nine month old Olivia. Now three-and-a-half years on and a stay-at-home dad of two, I can easily say that staying home with my kids is the best and hardest job I’ve ever had. It’s physically exhausting, mentally challenging, emotionally taxing, and can be very lonely at times. Things have gotten easier since that first year of thinking ‘what the hell am I doing?’ but a large part of that has come as a result of making plenty of mistakes, a few low moments and putting tried and tested practices into place. I’ve become a far better dad over the last few months because I’ve learned how to better take care of myself and manage my days.

| Ways I keep myself sane while on the job

Get Out Of The House

As often as possible. Get out of the house as often as you can. This could be on your own with the kids, meeting another parent with kids the same age as yours or even to a group. Plus, if you’re feeling a little #MumGuilt or #DadGuilt in my case, you’re killing to birds one stone. You’re getting out of the house which is making you feel better and you’re spending quality time the kids too.

I don’t mind the odd day of chilling around the house but after a couple of days of not doing anything I start to get a bit anxious. If you’re going mad, then the kids are too. Plus, there’s only so much, Peppa Pig, Hey Duggee and YouTube that I can stand.

I have found that taking an outing everyday not only stops myself and the kids from being bored but it’s also helped a lot with my own mental health. I feel more positive, more motivated and more inspired to try new things.

Have An Outlet

For me, sanity relies A LOT on having outlets that help to define me outside of being a dad. I can remember getting to the two year anniversary of being in the job and discovering that it didn’t really fulfill me the way it use to.  I loved it of course, but I soon realised that although being a dad and staying home with my kids is one of the most important parts of me (and certainly takes up the most time), it is not the only part. So I actively started thinking of creative outlets that I would enjoy (which is how my blog was created). I’ve been apart of the blogging community a little under eighteen months now and it has helped me more than I can put into words. connecting with new people through blogging is one of the best things I done since being at home.

Make Time For Yourself

Whether that’s by yourself or with friends. You need to keep being yourself and not just the dad with the kids! If you’ve following me on Instagram you’ll know that over the last few weeks I’ve been trying a different routine to help better my own mental health and increase my productivity. One of the changes I made was getting up a little earlier and getting out for a walk with the dogs. Now, while I haven’t achieved that every morning, I have achieve getting out on my own with the dogs and I can’t tell you what a difference it’s made.

I absolutely love spending time with my kids and I never want to be away from them but there comes a point when you think to yourself ‘I just need five minutes peace.’ Getting out and walking on my own is my little time were it’s just me and my thoughts. It’s a starting point for me to return to a happier state of mind. I recommend you find time for yourself too.

Next year will mark my forth year as a stay-at-home parent and I will in the job for at least another after that, just in time for Robyn to start nursery. I’m not saying for one minute that day-to-day life as stay-at-home parent is all sunshine and rainbows because believe me it’s not. In fact, it would be far easier and far less stressful going out to work but a large part of keeping myself on the right side of sane will come from putting these practices (and many more) into place.

 

How do you stay sane as a stay-at-home parent? Can you relate to any of these? Do you have any tips that you’d like to add? I guess the real question is: do you ever feel like you’re going insane???

 

 

Choosing A Primary School Is A Complete Mind Field

For those who are following me across social media, Instagram specifically will know that we are currently looking around Primary Schools for Olivia for next September when she will be leaving nursery to start in Reception class.

Choosing a primary school has felt like a daunting task to say the least. It’s made me question everything from where we live to our current family dynamic and even family and support network. It seem like there’s too much choice or very few options.

As a general rule of thumb, I tend to go with my instincts and gut reaction when faced with a decisions like this. I always find it a good place to start but even then I’ve myself questioning it at every turn. I’m not saying for one minute that Home Ed is for me because I don’t think it would be but I complete understand why people choose that option.

Out of the five schools we’ve looked at, I’ve only liked two of them. With Rachel being a teacher we’ve found it really hard to look at a school through our ‘parent eyes’ rather than our ‘teacher eyes’ and I think this is why we’ve pulled each school to bits after every tour we’ve had. It’s either that or our standards are too high and we’re over thinking it.

And we’ve still got two more we’d like to visit.

| For those who have been though this already (some more than once) what do you think? Are we over thinking it?

When I think about the two schools I actually liked, the first thing that comes to mind is that they were open and honest about what their failing were. Sure, I could of read the Ofsted before we went (just to clarify, we did) but what does that tell me? It tells me where the school was at 12 months ago or whenever the results were published and not really a true reflection on the school as a whole. I like to hear things straight from the horses mouth and I love when people are open and honest enough to admit they’ve made mistakes.

I’m a firm believer in ‘no one is perfect.’

So, when I think at the schools I didn’t like, the people showing us around spoke about it like it was a business and not a school. They spoke about investments, percentages and ratios. Sure, ratios are important when we’re talking about teaching staff to children. After all we actually want someone there watching our children so they don’t through themselves off something. I think having experienced this kind of visit and listening to people talk about schools in this way only confirms what I’m already thinking and it’s the one thing I disagree on the most. Schools and teachers are allowed to be exactly that.

I don’t want to write a post about what questions you should ask when visiting a potential school because there’s enough of those out there already but what I will write is just go with your instincts and gut reactions when deciding whether a school is right for you.

Sure, Ofsted results and reports are important and should not be over looked. They form part of the bigger picture when you’re making your final decision. Just give it a quick glance, we did.

If I was going to pass anything from my experience, it’s this; Get in there and really have a look. Thinking less about numbers and S.A.T.S results and more about the learning environment itself. Things like, do the kids look engaged and happy? Is the class room vibrant, well kept (but don’t let unfinished displays put you off) and set up to better accommodate independent learning? Does the reception class have access to outside learning space and do they use it all year round? Weather should not stop outside learning.

We’re coming to the end of our school and to be honest I’m glad. This means we’re about to submit of application form for the school we’ve chosen. Now all we have to do is wait and see what comes back.

 

What do you think? Whats your experience of applying for Primary School places? What things did you look out for? What questions did you ask? Let me know in the comments below?

A Change Is As Good As A Rest

Life is just one big rush at the moment. With having a wife who works long hours, two girls under five, two dogs, trying to grow a successful blog, running a business and trying to fit everything else in between. It’s been all work and no play for a quite a while now, and unfortunately, Olivia and Robyn have been getting the rubbish end of the stick. All I can say is, thank god for Hey Duggee, Peppa Pig and YouTube. We need a new routine, and fast!

As a family we have a million things going on, too many to count sometimes and with so many plates spinning all at once it’s easy to get overwhelmed. My energy gets sapped and I have to work extra hard to produce my best work. I’m sure many of you can relate to what I’m saying?

The problem isn’t necessarily the amount of work we have to get done but more what we accomplish while we’re working. Most people (including myself) spend a lot of time doing non-work related activities instead of being productive. These might include browsing social media (which I know is a must for any blogger), checking emails, taking long lunch breaks, and chatting with co-workers. When these activities turn into habits, it becomes harder to get all of your work done in order to focus on other aspects of your life. I believe this is were my problems are coming from. It hasn’t got anything to do with how much I have to do but how well I manage my time in order to achieve the things I need to achieve.

| I also realise that the “too much to do” problem can sometimes be my own fault!

So, this is were my new routine come into play. If you’ve been in and around Instagram over the past couple of weeks and you’re a follower of David of David and Donetta you’ll know that he’s been getting up at four thirty in the morning in order to increase his own productivity. Now, when I first saw this I thought he was mad (which there’s a chance he might be) but then I started to think about it. Maybe getting up a little bit earlier isn’t such a bad idea after all. Who doesn’t want to increase their own productivity and in doing so better their own attitude towards the day ahead and start it with a positive mindset?

A lot of my problems come from getting up to late and being in a rush before I’ve even started the day. This negative attitude then carries on throughout the day causing every day tasks that should only take a matter of minutes take twice as long because I’m not as focused as I should be. Giving myself extra hours in the morning to get some tasks ticked off my list and get myself into a more positive mindset is an attractive concept.

The plan is to get up a little earlier than everyone else, get dressed and take the dogs for a walk. I’ve always find that going out for a walk on my own is a good way to clear my thoughts and to put things into perceptive. Once I’m back in the house, hopefully everyone will still be sleeping (not guaranteed with two little ones). I am sure many of the parents reading this will understand where I’m coming from. The theory is, if I can get a few jobs ticked off my list early doors, my mind will be in a much better place to keep the momentum going through the rest of the day. Plus, the extra hours I’ll gain are a much needed bonus.

I never really understand the saying ‘A change is as good as a rest’ until this week. and I definitely needed to do something different. The combination of a slump in my mental health, leaving my part time job to be at home full time and the same old mundane routine has impacted me fairly dramatically.

Choosing to change my daily routine in order to get myself in a more positive frame of mind and managing my time more effectively is the starting point of overcoming my increasing workload and returning to a happier state of mind.

 

What do you think? How do you stay positive and keep motivated? Let me know in the comments below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why I'll Never Regret Becoming A Stay-At-Home Dad.

I’ve been a stay-at-home dad for a little over three years now. My days are filled with pretty much the same routine. Get the girls out of bed, make breakfast and get them dressed. Drive to nursery, complete any minor chores around the house, entertain the eldest while the littlest one naps and if I have energy left then I’ll cook tea. When you see if wrote down like that I would more of rest going out to work, wouldn’t it?

Does that sound like I’m whining about my life? Well, I don’t mean it to because I really love what I do.

That said, being a househusband isn’t always easy and remains a taboos subject for a lot of people and still creates a lot of social unease. You can imagine the comments from some of my male colleagues when I told them that I was quitting my job as a Store Manager to look after our home and raise our children. To be honest it took me a while to figure out how to answer people when they asked me what I did for a living. For a long time I use to mumble something about Rachel wanting to go back to work. I felt uncomfortable talking about it, for the simple fact I felt like I had something to prove.

Now I simple answer “I’m a stay-at-home dad!”

I think it’s fair to say that the number of stay-at-home dads is on the rise and we’re no longer the exotic species we used to be. Surely the fact that LEGO released a stay-at-home dad figurine, complete with baby in a pram and corporate mom, reflects that.

Being a full-time dad and house husband has plenty of perks too of course. From considerable amounts of quality time with the kids to having the time catching up on your favourite Netflix shows and of course the best thing of all, not having to go out to work. Which in the summer isn’t to bad but now the dark mornings are here, it’s a god send.

I’m thankful I can say that as a three year veteran in the stay at home dad game I have worked through a lot of the feeling of self doubt and inadequacy I felt in the beginning. You know the feeling you get when you’re at home with a kid for the first time and you suddenly think to yourself ‘I don’t know what I’m doing.’ Just remember you do know what you’re doing and you’ve go this. Whether you’re a Mum or a Dad, you’ve got this.

Three years into the job, new challenges have presented themselves. The biggest of these has to be those little but constant interruptions throughout the day, whether that be having to do minor chores around the house or doing the nursery run five mornings a week. Plus when you’re trying to get into the flow of writing a blog, editing a video or putting an Instagram post together and all you have in your ear is ‘Daddy, can I have?’ or ‘Daddy, watch me!’ It’s enough to test the patience of even the most laid back person.

The absence of colleagues to share a chat with over a coffee break has also been a problem but I guess that’s why I got into blogging. Being part of a community has really help me connect with people and I am happy to say I met some amazing people who I consider friends.

If it’s something that you’re thinking about doing then please don’t think about all the negative points. Think of all the positive reasons to be one. I relish all the good things that come with being a stay-at-home dad and there are a lot of them. It could very well be the best think I ever did with my life.

 

Are you a stay-at-home parent? Do you regret it? Or are you in a position where you’re think about doing it? Let me know in the comments below

Tried, Liked It, Bought It | How We Chose The Right Family Car For Us

Buying a car for your family is something you have to get right. Choosing the wrong car can be an expensive mistake, especially if you end up having to change car within a few years of your original purchase. So what should you be looking for when buying a family car?

A question that gives you a headache just thinking about it, let alone trying to answer it. Finding the best family car for your needs comes with a mountain of things to consider. There are so many different types of vehicles now that it can often seem impossible given all the choices. Whether it’s a small hatchback for in and around town, a large SUV for a big family or even a pickup truck for practicality and use for work. There are countless choices and models to pick from.

If you’re not huge on cars then the task is even harder. It can be difficult enough to find the right vehicle for your needs. I also what day to day activities you will be using the car for. We all know about the school run or going to the supermarket for your weekly shop, but will you be using the car for work? Do you have relatives that live far away, which means regular long journeys on the motorway? It’s a mind felt of things to consider.

 

For those who follow me in Instagram will know that a couple of weeks ago I teamed up with Evans Halshaw to celebrate the launch of the All-New Ford Focus. I was kindly invited me down to test drive the brand new model for a few days, which of course I was only to happy to except. I have always been a massive lover of Ford as a brand and I have only ever driven Ford cars so when this opportunity came along it was the perfect partnership for me.

If you’re really up to date with my social media activity you will know that a couple of week after completing the review I actually went back and bought one. Who does that? Who does that after only driving for a short time and without test driving any other make or model? Me!

I passed my driving test in 2005 and I have only ever driven Ford. I have had four Fiesta’s and this is my Third Focus. Plus I use to study Fords history and research older models for fun so it’s safe to say, I know the brand and I know the cars well. And, for those who really know me will know that I am a creature of habit. I know what I like and I stick to it. Some people might see that as boring but it’s just the way I am and it’s only now I am in my thirty’s that I am OK with that.

 

Whenever I am thinking about getting a new car I always ask myself Four simply questions, questions I know will cover all the bases and help me avoid making a costly mistake. For some people the decision of buying a new car won’t be this simple but I have been through this many times and I think this allows me to make some solid, family-friendly recommendations:

• Is it within my budget? Decide how much you want to pay and stick to it. There’s always wiggle room.
• Does it fit in with my day to day activities? Your day to day activities is important too. If that includes doing the school run or sitting in traffic as you head to work, good fuel economy might be more important than storage space.
• Is it safe? The most important thing in the car is you. The new Focus has a Five star N Cap rating which is the best one there is.  Cars are safer now than every before. With features like voice command and hands-free calling , parking sensors rear view cameras and speed limiters. All these features are designed to keep you focused. Plus high spec models with this kind of stuff could be cheaper on insurance.
• Does it look good? There’s nothing more to say on this one. If my car looks good, it makes me feel proud. If people compliment me on it, that’s a bonus. I have had so many compliments since I’ve been driving around in this new car.

I know what you’re thinking? The Ford Focus isn’t the car for you. Well, that’s OK, we’re not all the same and if we were the world would be a pretty boring place. However, it is the car for me. It ticks all of my boxes and answers all the questions above and if you go to Evans Halshaw, they’ll look after you. Just tell them I sent you.

Just because you’re a parent doesn’t mean you have to settle for a Mum/ Dad-mobile. With a little research and careful planning, you can find a vehicle that’s both practical for your family and perfect for you.

 

What do you think about when you’re buying a new car? What’s more important to you? Look, comfort, economy, practicality? Let me know in the comments below

Do Modern Dads Have To Be A 'Jack Of All Trades?'

Being a modern dad isn’t easy and as it turns out the job requires us to have a wide variety of different skills from navigating social media to knowing the lyrics to your kids favourite songs. But having a modest Instagram following is far from the only knowledge required of a modern dad.

Along with taking on the more ‘traditional’ dad talents such as changing a Tyre or putting a shelf up, we also need to have additional skills such as cooking dinner and learning how to braid hair. Doesn’t it feel sometimes like society needs us to be everything to everyone, a ‘Jack of all trades?’

Being a dad in the modern world demands that we get to grips with all manner of tasks and challenges, including those that were once mainly done by mum. It does seem that the requirements of dads today is much tougher than they were in the past, or so it would seem. Even compared to my own dad, as a generation we need to be able to handle so much more.

I believe that there’s a benefit to dads having these added pressures. It does feel that dads are finally finding their voice, especially at home. Dads are now discovering that they have a choice instead of being told what to do when it comes to working or staying at home. They are discovering that they have a voice, an option and they can finally do what they what to do instead what what people think they should do.

Plus, most will even agreed that they spend more time with their children compared to their own dads, which is the whole point, right?

For those who follow me on Instagram will know what I’ve been delving into the world of D.I.Y, trade centres and builders merchants over the past few week while we have project home office on the go. This is a world that I am not to familiar with considering I’ve got a dad who’s been in the game for forty years. In the world of the stay-at-home dad I am the Jedi Master but anything to do with power tools and tape measures I am very much the Padawan.

Building this project has definitely given me some added skills as a dad but It’s also made me think about the pressures of modern dads and feeling you get of needing to be everything, everywhere, all the time. I guess what I’m trying to say is, do mum’s feel the same? Do mum’s feel like they have to keep up with the more traditional roles while feeling like society wants to pick up the none traditional ones too?

I did think about something else while playing bob the builder. My girls loved it too. They love being outside in the wet and the rain chopping wood and hammering in some nails. So I guess you could say it taught me that it’s OK if they want to be outside doing that or being inside playing with L.O.L dolls and Barbies, along as it makes them happy.

Maybe all of us, whether you’re a mum or a dad, need to be a ‘jack of all trades’ sometimes. After all, we’re in 2018 and if we can’t be or do what ever we want now, when can we?

What do you think? Do modern dads have to be a jack of all trades? Is there a pressure of them to take on the traditional talents as well as taking on the more non-traditional ones? Let me know in the comments below