Interview With Ricky Shetty a.k.a. Daddy Blogger
A very happy new year to all our readers and contributors. We are happy to kick start the year with an exclusive interview with Ricky Shetty a.k.a. DaddyBlogger. Born and brought up in Vancouver, Canada but having roots in Mangalore, Karnataka Ricky is now traveling around the world with his wife Anne and three children Rianne, Ryan and Renzo- all under five. Ricky blogs about his parenting experience and offers tips from a father’s perspective on his blog DaddyBlogger.com. He has also authored “Wisdom from Daddies” a book that contains collective wisdom from over 100 dads.
Q: Tell us about Ricky Shetty and the family
I am passionate about my wife, kids, and living life to the full. My mom was raised in Nagpur and my dad was raised in Mumbai. My parents immigrated to Canada in the 1970s, a few years before I was born. I orchestrated a flash mob at the international airport to propose to the love of my life Anne and we got married on a yacht. We are currently traveling around the world with our 3 young kids (Rianne, Ryan, and Renzo).
Q: What prompted you to document your life as a father in a blog?
When I became a dad for the first time, I was looking for good resources on parenting from a father’s perspectives. Since I could not find many good resources for dads, I ended up creating them including my website DaddyBlogger.com, my book “Wisdom from Daddies”, as well a support group for dads called “YVR Dads”.
Q: What are the various elements of the blog Daddyblogger.com and how do they help readers?
On DaddyBlogger.com, I have interviewed over 100 dads about fatherhood, have over 20 guest blog posts by dads from around the world, I do product reviews on useful gadgets and services for parents, and have a big focus on Family Travel inspiring parents to travel more with their kids.
Q: What is a typical day in the life of Ricky Shetty?
Right now, we are in the middle of a round-the-world trip. We are now in Manila, Philippines where we celebrated my wife’s parent’s 50th Wedding Anniversary. We are heading to Hong Kong, Dubai, South Africa, South America, Central America, and then back to Vancouver, Canada. So life is always changing day-to-day as we experience local culture, food, and sightseeing.
Q: How do you manage your internet media business, blogging, bringing up three little kids and being an author?
Balance is definitely tricky but I think it comes down to priority management. I prioritize God first, my wife second, my kids third, and everything else next. The 7 F’s (Faith, Family, Finances, Fitness, Fun, Focus, and Future) is what I focus on. I also consciously choose to have quiet time with just God and myself. My wife and I have regular date nights. I spend time with my kids together as well as one-on-one time with each of them.
Q: What was the thought behind authoring a book on fatherhood? How has the response been?
I had compiled over 100 interviews on my blog. I decided to re-purpose the content into the form of a book so it is easy for readers to find everything in one centralized book. The book became an Amazon Best Seller within a couple of days of release and it has got lots of positive reviews and feedback from readers. It is available as both a paperback version and e-book version.
Q: Is there an instance where someone told you how DaddyBlogger or the book Wisdom from Daddies has helped them in their journey as a parent?
One particular story that stands out was when a 19 year old teenager contacted me through social media. His girlfriend was pregnant, he was scared of being a dad for the first time and didn’t know who to turn to. Since we lived in the same city, I invited him over to my home and counseled him about fatherhood and what to expect. He is now a happy dad and every time I see pictures of him and his son it brings a smile to my face. I feel humbled and honoured that my blog was able to inspire and impact him.
Answer in one word: What is the one thing you want your children to remember you as?
World Changer
Are there more books coming up? If yes, by when and on what topic?
Writing a book is a lot of work so I am not sure I want to write another book. However I will continue blogging. I have shifted my focus and passion to long-term family travel inspiring other parents to prioritize family travel by saving up and making it a regular part of their lives. I believe travel is the best form of education and transforms the minds and hearts of kids in a positive fashion.
Any parenting advice or tips/ tricks for fathers who juggle between multiple roles everyday over and above being parents.
My top 2 tips:
- Listen to your wife: I find parenting comes much more naturally to moms than dads so I trust my wife’s motherly instinct. It’s important to always focus on keeping your wife happy. One of my favourite sayings is “Happy Wife, Happy Life!”
- Spend quality time with your kids: Kids need time provision more than financial provision so instead of focusing primarily on being the provider and protector. Focus on investing quality time by just being there for your kids.
How has fatherhood changed Ricky Shetty? What did you learn about yourself after becoming a parent?
My entire focus has shifted from being self-centered to being kid-centered. The biggest shift is that life becomes more about the next generation and leaving a legacy. I have continuously had to conquer my own selfishness and be aware of my own mistakes and short-comings. I have also learned the importance of teamwork in my marriage. When my wife and I work together as a team, our kids benefit the most. The best gift we can give our kids is a happy marriage.
