Lessons In Fatherhood...

June 20, 2010 11:18 AM

Lessons In Fatherhood, From the Dads of YouTube: "Home movies have evolved since the days of Panama hat-wearing patriarchs milling about the backyard, holding a Super 8 or shoulder-mounted camcorder, shouting at the children to "wave to the camera!" (only to have those images disappear into a closet to gather dust for decades). Now, with the help of YouTube, these moments can go from minivan to majorly viral in 30 minutes or less."

Go Viral, Make Moolah.

Don't Confuse the Kids.

Remain Calm While on National Television.

Don't Experiment With Pulling Teeth.

Play It Safe. Avoid Puppets.

Baby Teeth Are Sharp. End of Story.

Explosives + Skateboard = Dad of the Year?

Kids Don't Listen. Period.

Big Men Should Stay Off Tiny Toys.

Kids Talk Funny.

posted by ericb (21 comments total)

Happy Father's Day to all the MeFi Dads!
posted by ericb at 11:19 AM on June 20, 2010 [2 favorites]

You know what the best Fathers Day present ever would be? If everyone involved in advertising who has made a television advert featuring an "Ad Dad" - you know the type, the lumbering oafish buffoon who is wrong about everything - would just spontaneously combust and collapse to the ground as a little pile of ashes. That would be great, thank you.
posted by Artw at 11:35 AM on June 20, 2010 [9 favorites]

Anyhow, while I am awaiting that unscheduled fortean event, here's me and my daughter riding a giant bug towards SCIENCE! at the Pacific Science Center.
posted by Artw at 11:45 AM on June 20, 2010 [2 favorites]

You know the verse from "The Wheels on the Bus" that goes "The daddies on the bus say 'I love you, I love you, I love you'"?

Well, that does not reflect my experience on MBTA buses. You could suggest that "daddies" is a euphemism for "pimps," and that would make more sense except that pimps don't ride the bus.
posted by Mayor Curley at 11:47 AM on June 20, 2010

It is pretty awesome to be a dad.
posted by boo_radley at 11:48 AM on June 20, 2010 [3 favorites]

My daughter played a song on ukulele and sang to me today. Pretty awesome, indeed.
posted by MrMoonPie at 11:54 AM on June 20, 2010 [1 favorite]

i'm 44 years old and I miss my dad. He's 500 km closer to the equator than I am to the arctic circle and fast asleep. He doesn't chatter or talk much so its hard to get him on the phone. And we both know I'm not his little girl anymore. But its only now that I know how lucky I was to have him as dad.

Happy Fathers Day to all you dads out there.
posted by infini at 11:56 AM on June 20, 2010 [1 favorite]

You know it's only Father's Day in America?
posted by A189Nut at 12:09 PM on June 20, 2010 [1 favorite]

In the UK too - are you sure you are not thinking of Mothers Day?
posted by Artw at 12:20 PM on June 20, 2010

does it matter?
posted by infini at 12:38 PM on June 20, 2010

Well, if you'd like, you can come over and have steaks with us, a189nut.
posted by boo_radley at 12:51 PM on June 20, 2010

You know it's only Father's Day in America?

June 14-20 This Week Is Universal Father's Week: It not only celebrates the importance of a father to the family unit, but the contributions of grandfathers, stepfathers, brothers and other male figures as well. Sponsored by the International Society of Friendship and Good Will, the observance urges family members to express appreciation for their contributions.

I expect an apology forthwith. And breakfast in bed.
posted by hal9k at 12:54 PM on June 20, 2010 [2 favorites]

"big men should stay off tiny toys" and "kids talk funny" both link to the same big man on a tiny toy.
posted by idiopath at 1:11 PM on June 20, 2010

You know it's only Father's Day in America?

Your point?
posted by MaryDellamorte at 1:22 PM on June 20, 2010

I was guessing it was a joke, you know, how people always say things like that when we Yanks start going on about the 4th of July or Thanksgiving or Christmas.
posted by MrMoonPie at 1:42 PM on June 20, 2010

"pulling teeth" link touches my heart. My dad was the designated tooth puller in our house. tooth got loose, out came the pliers. dad's rationale was he hated seeing people stick their fingers in their mouths to keep wiggling their loose teeth - wasn't sanitary, in his view, although I recall the pliers tasting of WD-40 - not freshly boiled or anything neurotic like that.

he always came straight across with the cash, though - no waiting.
posted by toodleydoodley at 2:00 PM on June 20, 2010

"big men should stay off tiny toys" and "kids talk funny" both link to the same big man on a tiny toy.

Oops. Proper link for 'Kids Talk Funny.'
posted by ericb at 2:07 PM on June 20, 2010

Dates around the world - looks like Third Sunday of June is the clear winner. Why the international greetings card magnates have had more luck standardising this one than Mothers Day I have no idea. The lack of a traditional basis like Mothering Sunday might be something to do with it.
posted by Artw at 2:45 PM on June 20, 2010

Happy father's day, all you mefi dads ... I hug you all as stand-ins for my departed Dad. Here's an amusing little vignette of some of fatherhood's priceless moments.
posted by madamjujujive at 5:46 PM on June 20, 2010

You know it's only Father's Day in America?

...and Canada.
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:19 PM on June 20, 2010

I'm glad the Moolah made from David after Dentist is going to his college fund and Operation Smile - I was worried it was some parents cashing in on a clip that would have been on America's Funniest Home Videos in the past.

Driving down to see my dad for Fathers Day, I heard Cats in the Cradle on the radio. It seems like one of those songs to keep off the playlist for 24 hours. Unlike playing anti-love songs on Valentines Day, playing that song can only be a fricking sad song, no matter your past experience with or as a father.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:11 AM on June 21, 2010