To celebrate Father’s Day, I’ve written this little note to a dad who truly inspires me ...

Dear Bandit, thank you for inspiring me to be a better dad.

Like you, I have two beautiful daughters and as of last month, a newborn son. 

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My girls are two and three so we’re well and truly in our Bluey era.

The most effective way for kids to learn is by observing the behaviour we model for them. Kids watch, copy and absorb what us adults do and say (that’s why we can’t really get mad at them after their first swear word).

But I’m here to say that modelling works for adults too, because observing how you navigate dad life has been a masterclass for a new dad like me.

Here are three things I love about you as a dad, Bandit:

Play

Your commitment to playing with your girls is unmatched. Even when you’re busy or exhausted you just plonk yourself on the floor and embrace whatever game the kids are playing. And as I’m learning with my girls, often, it’s not even about the game, they just want our attention, and on their level. 

I absolutely adore how willing you are to humiliate yourself. In the Dance Mode episode you unleash some outrageous moves in public and loudly exclaim, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m doing this for my kid”. A quote I think of all the time.

Who cares about a few weird looks from strangers if your kids are happy. 

Flaws

You own your mistakes. You acknowledge when you’ve lost your temper. And you apologise. I’m proud to admit that you have guided me to be better in this space.

There’s something very powerful about an adult saying sorry to a two or three-year-old. It instantly flips the power dynamic and validates that little person as an equal. You can see by the looks on their faces that it truly means something.

You’ve taught me to see an apology as a show of strength, not weakness.

Lessons

If something is hard or annoying, my eldest can be quick to get frustrated and retreat. But as you so perfectly pointed ou: t“Obstacles do not block the path, they are the path”. It was a real a-ha moment and exactly what I needed to hear.

It reminded me that the real growth or fun can be IN the obstacle. Particularly if you tackle it together. Such wisdom.

Can’t wait to try that quote again soon on my three-year-old when I put her to work on my tax return.

Sam Mac showed his love for Bluey when he came as the character to the Big Freeze in June, helping to fight against motor neuron disease. Credit: Seven

Thank you, Bandit

Overall, you’re not the traditional hapless dad caricature. You pull your weight around the house, you make a living for your family and you are a fun and caring dad.

Some would argue that you set an unrealistically high bar, but I like to see it as something for us dads to aspire to. And if we do fall short, we’ll still be miles ahead of “Daddy Pig”.

In closing, thank you, Bandit, for being the dad you are. And for gently showing us all the dad we can become.

Famously, you once said, “I’m not taking advice from a cartoon dog”. Well, I think that was one of the rare occasions you were wrong. You rock! Happy Father’s Day Bandit!