MAD Blog award final for stay at home dad

Tim and Charlie appeared on BBC Lincolnshire's Breakfast Show with William Wright

Lincolnshire Blogger Tim Atkinson has reached the final stage of the MAD Blog awards 2010.

His blog, Bringing Up Charlie, tells the story of how he gave up teaching to stay home and raise his two-year-old son Charlie.

Tim said: "It soon became addictive, especially when it started to attract the attention of mummy bloggers."

The award event will be held on the 13 September at Butlins Ocean Hotel and Spa on the south coast.

Tim started blogging two years ago when he gave up his role as assistant head teacher at Boston Grammar School to look after his son Charlie, who was six months old at the time.

Initially the blog was intended to be a record of Charlie growing up and as a way of keeping family members (some as far away as Australia) up-to-date with his progress, "It also proved a useful way of keeping my brain active," said Tim.

Blog drivel I'm entirely responsible for this drivel; nobody writes this stuff but me. I write what I want and I publish without anyone's permission but my own. Tim Atkinson

Tim's blog is now among the most popular parent blogs in the UK, in the Cision Top Ten and read by well over three thousand people every month.

The site has now become more like a column than the family blog that was first envisioned, it has led to so many fantastic opportunities - from flipping pancakes with Emma Forbes, a cookery demonstration from James Martin, press trips to theme parks and toy reviews galore. It's also led to a book commission; "I'm currently writing a 'hands on' guide for dads on babies and young children." said Tim.

Tim is delighted to have reached the final, not least because he get to go to the awards ceremony at a luxury hotel. "I suppose I'd better practice that surprised 'Who? Me?' look, in case my name's the one in the golden envelope," said Tim.

To find out more and to view Tim's blog 'Bringing Up Charlie' visit: Bringing Up Charlie blog