This is the latest idea that passed through my sleepless brain a day or three ago.
I've been on the net ages, and most of the forums I can find specifically for fathers seem to focus on a) Americans and b) rights in contact and divorce issues.
All very well, and valuable resources/comfort zones/ranting rooms etc, but I've been thinking a little beyond that.
Given my reflective nature this time of year, and an increasing awareness of my age (???) I have noticed that more often than ever recently I have been contemplating ways in which I can give somehting back to others based on my experiences. I feel a need to teach, advise, support, write about, publish etc SOMETHING.
This applies to work (more of which another time), discovering a faith (more of which another time) and being a dad, which is what I'm talking about now.
I hope this doesn't sound arrogant, but I am aware that in a lot of ways I have experienced more than is perhaps 'average' for a bloke, and in my typically stoic way none of it seems a Big Deal.
After all, I'm just me. Stuff happens according to God's will, and somehow we deal with it, using whatever means He provides.

So what I'm going to look into is the idea of setting up a forum for dads to talk about being dads and share experiences wider than those identified at the top of this entry.
Here's a quick summary of what's come into my life so far:-

¬ Two daughters born during a loveless relationship with an unstable 'activist' who has issues, sections and convictions.
¬ Separation by choice from those girls for about eight years.
¬ Re-integration of children as independent adults into a new family.
¬ Marriage, self employment and five more children.
¬ Practical hands on parenting because
Being a Dad is something you DO, not just something you are

¬ One son among six daughters, one of whom (thinks she might be) gay
¬ Water birth, home birth, hospitla birth
¬ Christianity and vegetarianism
¬ Failed vasectomy and post-operative pregnancy
¬ Partner's health and complications with contraception.

Just a few things to be going on with...

And its a New Year.
Thank God for that and all it will bring.
I am still 'clean' too, which is refreshing and lifts me daily. Not always easy, but several months have passed and I look forward with hope for stability and spiritual growth one the back of this as well.

Cool. Now where was I?