DaddiLife
  • Home
  • Family
    • Modern Fatherhood
    • Trying
    • Expecting
    • New Dad
    • Stay At Home Dad
    • Separation
    • Single Dads
    • Step Dads
  • Things To Do
    • Kids at Home
    • Newborn
    • Toddler
    • 5 – 10
    • 10+
  • Health
    • Dad Jokes
    • Fitness
    • Family Meal Recipes
    • Safety
    • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
    • Work / Life Balance
    • Money
    • Education
    • Sports
    • Gear
  • Book Squad
  • Reviews
    • Gift Ideas
    • Family Fun
    • Toys
  • Dads at Work
    • Guides for Dads at Work
    • Case Studies
    • Q&A
    • Mentoring Programme
  • Join
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Write With Us
  • Home
  • Family
    • Modern Fatherhood
    • Trying
    • Expecting
    • New Dad
    • Stay At Home Dad
    • Separation
    • Single Dads
    • Step Dads
  • Things To Do
    • Kids at Home
    • Newborn
    • Toddler
    • 5 – 10
    • 10+
  • Health
    • Dad Jokes
    • Fitness
    • Family Meal Recipes
    • Safety
    • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
    • Work / Life Balance
    • Money
    • Education
    • Sports
    • Gear
  • Book Squad
  • Reviews
    • Gift Ideas
    • Family Fun
    • Toys
  • Dads at Work
    • Guides for Dads at Work
    • Case Studies
    • Q&A
    • Mentoring Programme
  • Join

DaddiLife

The parenting website for dads

New Dad

What Daddy Pig taught me about fatherhood

written by Hugh Wilson 4th August 2019
Daddy Pig

In his Fringe show, standup comic Philip Simon (aka Daddy Pig) reveals parenting lessons from the “porkside.”

There aren’t many people who when expecting their first child can say they “used to be a daddy”; at least not without some very serious questions being asked. But I’m someone who can, because before starting stand up comedy I was an actor, and one of my bigger roles was Daddy Pig in the stage production of Peppa Pig.

At the time I was 30 and single with no children, so I’d never even heard of the show. And that meant watching the show…yes, every single episode!

And that was fine, it was just research, but if I was on a date and we wanted to watch some TV, it would take some explaining that my recommended viewing list looked like it was curated by the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!

it would take some explaining that my recommended viewing list looked like it was curated by the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

 

Playing the (Daddy) Pig


Still, it paid off and I got the job, so spent the next 15 months of my life touring the UK and Ireland, ending up with a brief season in London’s glittering West End, playing the bumbling Daddy Pig. After a few years I went from living a very casual single lifestyle, into a serious relationship that very quickly led to some even more serious parenting.

Because I’m now a father to boys (our 2nd…or “last”…son was born in 2017) and I’m very hands on with all sides of parenting. And that’s partly school runs and nappy changes. But also, given everything that’s happening in the world today, it’s being conscious of our responsibility to raise them with an awareness of life in a post #MeToo era.

And this is something I started to explore when writing my Edinburgh show. That my sons are white, middle class boys, who will grow up to be white, middle class men (or women if they choose). Their whole lives will be nothing but unearned privilege and entitlement. So it’s down to me and my wife to ensure they learn the importance of their role in making society better, thinking about diversity, equality and feminism.

Daddy Pig

 

Raising better men


Themes we do see in Peppa Pig, by the way. It’s by no means perfect, but for a show that’s relatively clichéd, there are a number of episodes where the characters shun archaic patriarchal stereotypes. For instance, we see Daddy Pig doing domestic chores, and Mummy Pig being better at DIY than her hapless husband. All great things that, given their target audience, means perhaps a generation of children will grow up knowing it might be mummies that are stronger than daddies, physically and emotionally.

When our sons were born, in both cases they needed hospitalisation. Everything’s fine now, but for a whole week we lived with them on the neonatal ward, unsure what our futures held. During that time, no-one really asked how I was, but I was constantly being told I needed to be strong for my wife.

Now, you’ve not met my wife, but she is an amazing woman, without whom our children would be feral! I can assure you she does not need ME to be strong for HER. What I needed was someone to be strong for me. Because despite all the amazing things happening in my life, I struggled to find the happiness in any of it.

It’s all very well Peppa Pig teaching children that girls can play football. Or that strong, independent women don’t have to give up their careers to have children (yes, I’m talking to you, Miss Rabbit!). But I wonder if we’ll ever see a more realistic episode where we discover Daddy Pig sitting in a darkened room questioning his very existence?

 

Who’s the Daddy Pig?


Venue:  Banshee Labyrinth – Chamber Room (Venue 156,) 29-35 Niddry St, EH1 1LG

Dates:  Saturday 3rd August – Sunday 25th August

Time:   12pm (ends 1pm)

Tickets: Free/PWYW (Pay What You Want)

What Daddy Pig taught me about fatherhood was last modified: August 25th, 2021 by Hugh Wilson

Related

#metooDaddy PigEdinburgh FestivalPeppa Pig
0 comment
0
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Hugh Wilson

working dads, flexible work for dads
previous post
Flex for All: why dads need options at work
summer holidays FOSH
next post
Do you suffer from FOSH (Fear of the Summer Holidays)?

You may also like

Why do new dads get depressed?

19th March 2019

Becoming a Father changes men in so...

5th June 2018

Colic Relief – tips for dad

8th October 2017

Shared Paternity Leave: 4 years on

8th April 2019

Parent is born – a letter to...

8th March 2018

DaddiLifeForce – The Baby Night Feed

13th April 2017

Should Parenthood Be This Easy?

28th September 2018

A parent’s guide to reusable nappies

7th July 2021

Being a dad in 2021

23rd January 2021

Is “dad brain” for real?

10th July 2019

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Audiobooks for Dads

Get the latest dad news




Popular Things to Do

  • A Parent’s Guide To Tuff Trays

  • DaddiLifeForce – The Power of Lego

  • DaddiLifeForce – New Years 2017

  • DaddiLifeForce – Chinese New Year

  • Tuff Tray Ideas: Some great ideas for creative tuff trays

Writers Community

Write for DaddiLife


  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

© 2017 - DaddiLife. All Right Reserved. DaddiLife is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.


Back To Top
 

Loading Comments...