Building a community of dads - one coffee at a time
With more than a dozen dads and their kids attending the first event, it's clear this little group is filling a big need.
People with kids know parenting can be tough.
On a recent Saturday morning, Paul Liddell, a parent to a five- and a seven-year-old, watched as his simple idea to help dads deal with parenting and all its challenges became a reality.
Paul created Dad Gather as a way for Woonona area dads and their kids to meet in a relaxed and welcoming way, coffee in hand, prams at the ready with the view to building community, giving and receiving support and letting dads know that they are not alone. And with more than a dozen dads and their kids attending the first event, it was clear that this little group was filling a big need.
For Paul, the motivation to create Dad Gather came from his own experience as a new dad. Like many parents, he found those early years really tough.
“Even with parental leave and support, I wasn’t always grounded, and I didn’t feel very equipped,” Paul said.
“What I learned is dadding can be incredible and brutal. And none of us are meant to do it alone.”
After seeing a post online about a similar group starting in Sydney, Paul got to work. After putting the word out on community Facebook groups, the response was overwhelming, particularly from wives asking how their husbands could get involved.
When the first event rolled around, Paul admits he had no idea what would happen and he was pretty nervous as he waited to see who, if anyone, would come along.
“One turned up, and I met them, and then out of the blue about at least a dozen more dads, mainly dads with prams, turned up and I was absolutely blown away and I couldn’t believe it.”
Paul plans to run events every three or so weeks, usually starting with a coffee catch-up before heading to a park. As the concept is still really fresh, Paul expects the format to evolve over time, but the goal will stay the same.
“I guess I just want to facilitate a space to create heathy dad communities for dads and kids,” he said.
Importantly, Dad Gather isn’t just about socialising, and Paul hopes to create a space for honest conversations.
“I do want to build intention into this group as well,” Paul said. “It won’t just be hanging out every week… Just to hear how other dads are doing, and usually they’re doing it pretty tough, just to have that, it gives you that empathy of ‘I’m not the only one’.
“When you’re starting out, you think you’re the only one having problems, but it’s absolutely everyone.”
As for the dads on the fence (and who might have a partner in the background giving them a quiet push to attend), Paul said, “Give it a go because I wish I had done this five, six years ago but I’m doing it now and it’s amazing.”
The next Dad Gather will be on Saturday, February 14 at 7.30am at Thirroul Beach. If you're interested to know more, you can request to join the Dad Gather private Facebook group.
