It’s Game Time!

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.

Like Daughter, Like Dad

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!

Crossing Dad

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.”

Every Scar Tells A Story

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.

Cosplaying Goodbye

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.

Daddy Princess

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.

You Be Elsa

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!

On The Road Again

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!

Far, Far Away… Deep In Space

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.”

Best Coming Out Story Ever

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.”

His Special Day

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.

The Dr. Seuss Yearbook

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.

Sit Down

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.

Food Turns Into An Artform

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.

Going The Extra 18 Miles

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?

Bonus. Awesome Dads Who Did Their Duty Amazingly.

 

The best dads are those that can make your mom ball her eyes out with a romantic and poetic letter.

It’s not always about the love that he shows us, but the love that he shows our moms, like he did.

Some dads know that they won’t always be around forever, so they leave gentle reminders of themselves.

Check your car’s back seat cupholder. You never know what good luck charm your dad left for you.

Most guys would never dream of going gaga over something that’s as soft and cuddly as an animal.

But this dad’s comfortable in his masculinity and isn’t afraid to show off how much he loves alpacas.

Being a kid can be an awkward phase, but it only gets weirder when you need a head-shaping helmet.

This dad came up with an idea that would ensure that his baby never felt different from anyone else.

Dads like Simon Holland are awesome because they’ve got two skills that are vital for today’s kids.

As a modern dad, you have to know how to use social media, and you need a great sense of humor too.

The coolest dads are the ones who appreciate that we can’t always control everything that happens in life.

There was no sense in crying over spilled slushee. So instead, this dad decided to help his son clean it up.

Grownups don’t usually have accidents until they’re older, but this dad was willing to risk his reputation.

How many dads do you know who would become incontinent just so that their daughter won’t feel bad?

A dad who has a big heart will show this his compassion isn’t limited to his family, or even people.

He’ll go out and feed the ducks, or in this case, seagulls, because he doesn’t like seeing anyone starve.

Life was like a full circle after this man returned to the library he learned English in 60 years earlier.

The look of pride on this father’s face is golden! He’s probably thinking, “it was all worth the effort.”

Sometimes it’s not our dads who do something to wow us, but someone else’s dad who blows us away.

Most people wouldn’t be this excited about reading a college thesis, but this dad can’t wait to get home.

A little girl always dreams that her prince will come to sweep her off her feet so she can live in a palace.

It’s no wonder that a little girl’s first love is her dad, especially when they have a dad as cool as this guy.

Some dads find any excuse to relive their past, even if it means dressing up at someone’s birthday party.

A little reading mishap led this dad into thinking that the hippie era was making one last comeback.

Dads will sometimes appear to act all tough, so things like cute dogs are their ultimate kryptonite.

Once this pooch won this dad over, it became the center of his universe, and obviously his camera angle.

This daughter was happy to learn that her dad had made a brand-new friend in his apartment building.

But her heart melted when she realized her dad’s new friend walked on four legs and wore a collar.

They say that fathers know best because they give the best advice, which always comes from the heart.

The only thing he cherishes more than his kids taking his advice, is learning they’ve shared it with the world.

Dads are like an ocean of wisdom, and this particular dad made a point we could all benefit from.

Most of us would give anything to get advice from our dads, which would make us believe in ourselves.

The coolest dad is the one who isn’t afraid to accept their son for what they truly are, no matter what.

One kid thought his dad would stop loving him for coming out. It turns out, he was in for a tasty surprise.

Never put out a request for help to dads out there because you’ll get more than you ever bargained for.

This school got 550 more volunteer fathers than they needed. Now they’ll need 550 volunteer kids.

Dads know you don’t have to visit Neverland in order to never grow up, not when there’s a water park.

Those boys are 24, but age is just a number, and while time marches on, these three are all kids at heart.

Real men are comfortable enough with their masculinity to become cake bosses at baking school.

This dad doesn’t care what people think. He’s making the best cakes ever, and his daughter is so proud.