62 Hilarious Dads Who Were Clearly Born For The Role (New Pics)

Besides the corny jokes and the never-ending home improvement projects, fathers do a lot more for us than we give them credit for. 

When it’s 3 a.m. and your car breaks down, they’re the ones picking up the phone. And when it’s time to move across the country, they’re the ones who show up with a truck and a plan. 

Who would do that if not them? It’s easy to take all of that for granted, especially when your dad is busy lecturing you about tire pressure for the third time this month.

Research confirms just how deeply we’re affected when a father isn’t in the picture. Studies show that children who grow up without a father figure are four times more likely to live in poverty. 

They’re also more likely to struggle with drug use and to develop emotional or behavioral problems. On top of that, they’re twice as likely to drop out of school. Having an involved dad really matters.

When fathers do show up, kids notice. A survey of 2,000 Americans, conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by SweatBlock, found that 70% of people who grew up with a dad consider him one of their greatest mentors in life. 

Seventeen percent said he’s the first person they go to for advice. And one in four said their father is the first call they make during a stressful situation.

The same survey also asked people to share the most heroic things their dads have ever done for them. One person said their dad donated a kidney for them. Another said their dad paid off their credit card debt. 

Someone shared that their father waded through floodwaters during Hurricane Harvey just to come get them. And another said their dad stopped working entirely to take care of them after a car accident. It’s truly amazing what lengths they’ll go to for us.

Dr. Christina Hibbert explains that there are a lot of amazing ways fathers impact their kids for the better. For one, having a stable, involved father often leads to more confident children. Dads tend to encourage their kids to explore the world and try new things, which builds that sense of self-assurance over time.

That influence carries into the classroom, too. Dr. Hibbert notes that children with involved, nurturing fathers tend to do better academically and show stronger language skills. They also seem better equipped to handle the pressure that comes with school.

The benefits don’t stop in childhood, either. A study that followed families over four decades looked at fathers who built emotionally close relationships with their kids and encouraged them to push themselves. 

And it turned out their children went on to be more successful in their careers. That emotional investment early on clearly pays off in the long run.

Dr. Hibbert adds that they also tend to build stronger relationships down the line. When you think about it, that makes a lot of sense. 

A father who shows up consistently is showing his kids what it looks like to be there for someone. That kind of example sticks with you long after you’ve left home.

So while we’re here scrolling through all these funny and wholesome dad moments, maybe take a second to appreciate your own dad, too. He probably deserves to hear it more often. 

Send him a text. Give him a call. Or just let him win the next argument about the best way to load a dishwasher. He’s earned it.