I’m not normally one to toot my own horn. Okay, that’s not exactly true. It’s more like I’m never especially comfortable with overt self-promotion, but as a blogger, freelance writer, and dare I say “influencer,” shameless self-promotion almost comes with the territory. If I want to craft together some semblance of success, I need people to know who I am and what I’ve been doing. And making the lists can help tremendously with that “exposure.”

And this is a little different from what I did a few months ago when I showcased some of the writing I’ve been doing lately. Instead, it’s more about being recognized as a blogger — particularly as a dad blogger — and as someone who is worth following. Especially on Instagram; I’m @beyondtherhetoric on there, if you aren’t already following.

I’ve made a few lists this year. I’m both humbled and honored.

The Koala Mom

Back in February, Bonnie Way from The Koala Mom interviewed me about my life as a dad, as a blogger, and as a dad blogger. We discuss why I started blogging, whether or not I stick to a blog schedule, and what my favorite social media platform is and why.

Home With Aneta

Bloggers in Metro Vancouver, at least in the parenting niche, are all reasonably well-connected. But it’s extra special when someone way on the other side of the country takes notice.

When Aneta Alaei of Home With Aneta compiled a list of the best blogs from British Columbia, I made the cut, along with other local favorites like Stacey Robinsmith (A Dad in the Burbs), Tara Jensen (British Columbia Mom), and Codi Lynn (Creative Wife and Joyful Worker).

Vancouver Mom

I know. It’s almost as weird as that time I had a guest post on British Columbia Mom. I mean, I’m not a mom, so what am I doing on Vancouver Mom? Well, they gathered up a list of Vancouver dads to follow on Instagram for Father’s Day and I was one of the lucky few to make the cut. “Michael Kwan does it all,” they say. Or at least I play the part online.

Dad Camp

More recently, fellow dad blogger Buzz Bishop of Dad Camp collected up his own list of Canadian dads on Instagram that you should be following. “The world is more than just Instahusbands,” he asserts. “These guys are creating their own great work.” I also think this is the first time I’ve ever been called a “freelance father,” and no, that doesn’t mean I’m a dad for hire.

Huffington Post

After Buzz published his list of Canadian dads to follow on Instagram, he was approached by Huffington Post Canada to poach the list and update it for their own audience. The net result is that now 14 Insta dads, myself among them, have been featured on the site. Author Natalie Stechyson says that we are Canadian dads “who keep parenting very real.” She says that my self-description of being “fueled by caffeine and WiFi” is “the most accurate description of parenting/writing we’ve seen.”

Dad 2.0 Summit

You know how I do the What’s Up Wednesdays speedlink every month? The folks over at Dad 2.0 Summit do something similar that they call Fatherhood on Friday. They gather up some parenting-related news, share a ‘gram of the week, and highlight “porchlight posts” from some dad bloggers. I’ve been fortunate to be included a few times, most recently with my post about other preschool parents.

I’ll never know for certain whether making the lists on these websites really has a measurable impact on my traffic, my following, or my bottom line. But as someone who is constantly seeking validation, it feels great to be recognized for what I do. As Albert Einstein so famously said, “Try not to become a man of success, but rather a man of value.”