Last week, I asked my Facebook friends for input regarding a choice between two DODO Dads mascots, but with different expressions.
It was funny. Men primarily preferred the tired, but present dodo on the left; while women preferred the wide-eyed and happy bird on the right. I suspect guys were reflecting their true emotions, while women were expressing hope for their husbands.
I really like our new DODO Dads mascot, which is the main subject of our logo.
The expression of the dodo on the left looks like I felt most of the time when I was raising my three daughters.
It conveys the feeling that I’m exhausted, but my daughters reminded me of a promise I made four days earlier that we would go to the zoo that afternoon and I do not want to disappoint them. His eyes also convey that he has heard it all before, such as:
- Really, you have had this school project for three weeks, it’s due tomorrow and you are starting it tonight 20 minutes before bedtime? And I have to go to the store for supplies?
- Isn’t that the same excuse you gave me last week for not cleaning your room?
- I know I ruined your life for not getting you a cell phone for your 10th birthday.
- For the 10,000th time, no we can’t get a cat!
- What do you need $20 for this time?
- You want cheese pizza again? Can we at least add meat on half?
- No, you can’t get a horse either.
- What?!? You are picking up my daughter for a date on a motorcycle?
I agree, the dodo on the right is happier and brighter. It does convey:
- I am alert and vibrant
- I am approachable
- My attitude is chipper and I have a dad joke for you
- Life as a girl dad is outstanding
- My daughter just did or said the cutest thing
I like both mascots. But, in the end, I picked the left one for the logo’s main character. I just think it symbolizes what being a girl-dad is like most days.
It is often a tiring, frustrating and confusing job. But, we show up, remain present and do what we can, when we can, with what we have.
One of the commenters noted the the dodo on the right is how many girl-dads feel today — tired and annoyed — but, the dodo on the right is where we want guys to be after spending time in the community swapping stories, sharing tips and providing encouragement at every stage of parenting.
That is exactly what I envisioned when starting DODO Dads. By using humor and inspiration, we help strong, but bewildered and outnumbered fathers to become even better girl dads.
DODO Dads is a community built specifically for fathers raising daughters that combines laugh-out-loud humor, real-life encouragement and practical tools to help dads connect with their girls at every age — even if our logo looks frumpy.
Don’t be shy! Join the DODO Dads group on Facebook by visiting https://www.facebook.com/groups/dododads.
