Top 10 Single Dads

With Father’s Day just around the corner I wanted to do a Single Dad post but my last one was a serious so I debated if I should do another.

I have also seen and kindly included in quite a few top 10 Dad Blogs which is great but it got me thinking, who are my top 10 Single Dads?

So I thought I would have some fun and highlight 10 of my favourite single dads.
 

10. The Sultan

The Sultan isn’t the first choice for many when you think of good single dads. He starts off being rather pompous, childish and gullible of which these traits seem to follow him through when he is trying to parent Jasmine.

However, he is a kind man and you can see that he believes that he is doing the right thing for Jasmine.  You see that he struggles to understand her too, which I am sure all parents can relate to, often left feeling confused as to what he should do next. By the end he sees that his daughter is happy and would do anything to keep it that way, even if it meant changing the law that he has sworn to keep; something any parent would do.

9. Dracula

Dracula a struggling single dad who is trying to run his business, be a loving parent and grieve after the horrific murder of his wife in a mob attack.

Like the Sultan he feels out of touch and tries to run her life but being a teenager she obviously fights back. At the heart of the film he is trying to make her 18^th birthday party a hit and to include everything that would make her happy and that, for me, is what we all try to do and still often fail. It is clear that he gets everything wrong from time to time but he still does his best for her, like any dad would.

8. Stoick

Stoick is a man stuck in his ways and finding it difficult to relate to his son. He is a man’s man and struggles to parent a child that is the complete opposite to him. He is caught saying a few times that his son Hiccup is “just like his mother” and that must be difficult for him, especially after believing that she has died.

Stoick in the second film does what any father would and, despite their difficult relationship, dies saving his son; if that doesn’t earn him a place on this list then nothing will!  

7. King Triton

The King of the sea and a rebellious and inquisitive daughter what could go wrong? He was left a widower and had experience that left him hardened to the world. As always, he clashes most with Ariel and both he and she grow together like any parent does.

Despite having a kingdom to rule he also has 7 daughters! That is enough to make any dad want to high five him and buy him a pint!

6. The Gruffalo

Here is a dad that is looking after his son, he tries to educate him to the world and protect him from the dangers, even if it is just a mouse!

At the start you see him struggle with his son where he is throwing a tantrum and totally disobeys his dad, who can’t relate to that? The part I love is that at the end of the story you see the child head back to his Dad and cuddle up to him, safe and sound; very much like the days I have with the boys! A monster on the outside but a great father where it counts.

5. Daniel Hillard

Here is a man that enjoyed playing the “fun Dad” with his kids and sadly left his wife feeling stressed, annoyed and unloved. After being stung by the legal system he was hit with the realisation that he needed to do more so decided to make a difference and be in his children’s lives as much as he can even if that meant dressing up as an elderly woman! His dedication to do whatever it takes has given him a place in our hearts and on this list.

Now to my final 4!

4. Abe Simpson

I have a lot of time for Abe “Grandpa” Simpson and mostly because you need to consider the back story that makes him great. A hardworking man was literally left holding the baby when his wife walked out on him. This is a man who then stepped up and raised his boy.

We need to remember the era that he did this in. Being a single dad in the 70’s was rare and he probably struggled more than most, and we have seen that he didn’t make the best choices, but it is dads like him that paved the future for dads like me. He was a history maker and deserves a place for that reason alone.

3. Ned Flanders

Keeping with the Simpson theme I couldn’t miss out the modern day dad that is Ned Flanders.

Ned is doing brilliantly and a real example for all the single dads out there. He may be a bit over protective but you don’t see him struggle! He has Rod and Todd dressed, fed and happy whilst also bringing them up with strong moral values. Could he be better? Of course, he is Super Single Dad and does all of this whilst being self-employed and running his own business! Much love-diddly and respect-iddley!

2. Marlin

I couldn’t have a top 10 and not feature this wonderful dad. A father who, like many here, is traumatised and allowing life experiences to dictate how he parents and like many of us he tries and often gets everything wrong. The one thing that is true throughout the film is that he loves Nemo more than anything and will do anything for him even if that means swimming hundreds of miles, fighting sharks, swimming dangerous waters, making friends, tackling jellyfish, being swallowed by a whale and risking his own life to save his son. His journey allows him to grow but also shows the strength and love of a parent to do whatever it takes.

1. Caractacus Pott

Caractacus for me highlights the strength of being a dad. He is left a widower and is struggling financially to raise his children and look after his own father. If that wasn’t enough to melt your hearts he does every job possible to give what he can to make his children happy even if that means cutting hair or dancing and singing with an old bamboo.

Despite his children ignoring the basic stranger danger rules he goes off to rescue them at any cost whilst also reuniting many other captured children with their families and single dads like the toymaker. He might as well have been the founding member to Fathers for Justice!

If he can make a car fly and float, invent the most annoying sugary treat, get the girl in the end and still find time to be a great dad by making breakfast fun and singing his kids to sleep then he deserves 1^st place!

Here are my top 10, what do you think? Have I missed anyone? Who would you include?