Dads are often shown on TV and in movies as dudes who like fishing, grilling, and watching football on Sundays. But the fact is that most dads are awesome because they’ll do whatever it takes to make their kids happy every day. Take this guy, for example. He decided to tap into his inner child and his love for Mario Kart and take it up a notch. Now, what child could resist playing with his very own race car that’s been covered in duct tape? Surely, this is a memory that this kid will treasure for the rest of his life.
As a parent, you often have to lead by example, and teaching your child a lesson is the best part of being a dad. So when this little girl decided to put on shorts that were really short, he chose to show her some support by wearing short shorts too. Now if our dads had pulled this trick on us when we were in middle school or high school, we would have panicked and started wearing long pants. But hey, you live and learn as you go!
Nils Pickert didn’t react how some people would expect if they’d learned that their son loved wearing dresses and skirts. Instead of demanding his son wear pants, he chose to make him feel comfortable with himself by joining him. He even told The Huffington Post: “I care more about my boy being a self-assured, compassionate person. I couldn’t care less about the choices he makes on the way to becoming that person — as long as they cause no harm to himself or others.”
This is Josh Marshall with his then 8-year-old son, Gabriel Marshall. In March 2015, Gabriel was diagnosed with a form of cancer called anaplastic astrocytoma, a rare malignant brain tumor. He was able to have successful surgery, but Gabriel admitted he felt like a “monster” because of a large scar he has as a result of his surgery. “This broke my heart,” Marshall said. The amazing father’s solution was to get a tattoo that resembled his son’s scar. “I told him if people wanted to stare, they could stare at both of us,” he said.
In lieu of waving bye to his son before he went to school, Dale Price chose to do something totally radical. For every day of the school year, Price wore a different costume whenever his son went off to high school. He wore approximately 170 costumes in a year alone and they included characters like Terminator and Merida from the film “Brave.” Now most high school kids would feel humiliated, but his son probably gave him points for effort.
The key to being a great dad involves being willing to do whatever it takes to put a smile on your child’s face. And guess what? That can often mean that you have to don some earrings and put a tiara on your head just to see your little girl smile. But… doesn’t she have a tiara too? We’re guessing she let her dad borrow hers.
Someone took a photo of Rob Chillingworth and his daughter, Ruby, who were riding the subway. Ruby was headed to a party and was dressed as Olaf the snowman. But Chillingworth, who’s into heavy metal and owns a tattoo shop wore a cape and a blue sparkly dress just like Elsa from Frozen. “The kids had to dress up. I thought I had to as well,” he explained. “Ruby said ‘you be Elsa.’ I had to get the dress made as I’m a big geezer and you can’t get them in my size.” What a cool dad, but he’s totally changed how we see Elsa!
Joselyn, 9, told her dad, Trent McCain, that her doll “Abbie” wanted to go trucking with him. Since Joselyn considered McCain to be Abbie’s “grandfather,” he was happy to honor the request and take the doll along. “We decided to have a little fun and post pictures of our travels,” McCain shared on his company’s Facebook page. “I didn’t want Joselyn thinking I threw Abbie in the sleeper and forgot about her.” Now, this is something that Joselyn will always remember about her dad!
In lieu of a fort made of blankets, this little guy has a spaceship, which was designed by his old man. Daniel Sherrouse, a blogger for All We Have Is Gravity, created a spaceship simulator for Noah, his one-year-old son. Now this toddler can set a course and let his imagination take him wherever he wants to go. Sherrouse wrote what he hoped this project would do for his child. “I hope that it inspires him to have a life-long love of science and wonder.”
Coming out to your parents when you’re a teen can he horrifying. Even though your parents love you, it’s not the easiest topic to bring up at the dinner table. But one dad had overheard his boy making plans to come out to the family, and he wanted to make things easier by writing a letter that instantly went viral. The letter read: “I overheard your phone conversation with Mike last night about your plans to come out to me. The only thing I need you to plan is to bring home OJ and bread after class. We are out, like you now. I’ve known you were gay since you were six, I’ve loved you since you were born. P.S. Your mom and I think you and Mike make a cute couple.”
By the time he was 12, Connor Harrison was diagnosed with cancer two times. This prevented him from having a normal childhood. But when the cancer came back a second time, the family was told that Connor wouldn’t survive beyond 11 weeks. This was the worst news for a parent to hear. But instead of accepting defeat, his dad, Scott, came up with a plan. Connor wanted to see a car show.Unfortunately, there weren’t any nearby. So Scott turned to the internet, and you know how they responded? By providing 2,200 cars and 4,000 people. Unfortunately, Connor passed away, but he had one unforgettable memory.
Most high school grads are gifted the Dr. Seuss classic “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” But this dad not only bought the book, but he asked all of his daughter’s mentors, coaches and teachers to write something over a period of 13 years. On graduation day, he gave her that book, which ultimately proved to be one of the most amazing presents she could have ever hoped to receive from her dear old dad.
This photo totally reflects some of the sacrifices that a father will make for his child. Even after a tough day at work, this dad never forgot that had the most important job in the world — looking after his young daughter. So while they rode the subway, he not only gave up his seat, but he also reminded her that reading is fundamental. Now this isn’t something she’ll understand at this point in time, but this precious moment will mean something in the future.
Prepping your child’s lunch before they go to school may seem mundane, but not to David LaFerriere. Since 2008, he has drawn illustrations on his children’s lunch bags using a Sharpie, and all the drawings are different. “I used to work nights at a newspaper, and I’d be up early in the morning making my kids sandwiches,” LaFerriere told Mashable. The graphic designer from Wheaton College in Massachusetts added, “I started drawing on the baggies, sort of as a way to channel my creative juices in the morning, and it just ended up sticking.” Now, his kids and their friends can’t wait to see what he draws for them every day.
Yu Xukang lives in Yibin county in China, and as a loving dad, he travels 18 miles to guarantee that his 12-year-old son, Xiao Qiang, goes to school. But since the boy is disabled, Xukang has to carry him 4.5 miles to the closest school and then head back home. Then he makes the same trip to go pick his boy up and bringing him home. Qiang’s legs and arms are twisted, which make it impossible for him to make the trip on his own. “I am proud of the fact that he is already top of his class and I know he will achieve great things,” Xukang. “My dream is that he will go to college…I know that my son is physically disabled but there is nothing wrong with his mind.” Can we give these dads a round of applause?