43 Times Dads Went Full Wholesome And Won The Internet
Let’s face it: dads don’t always get the spotlight when it comes to emotional depth. They’re often stereotyped as the snack-fetchers, lawn-mowers, or awkward huggers of the family. But one scroll through the r/daddit subreddit and you’ll realize something powerful—dads are out here being absolute wholesome legends.
In this roundup of dads being extra wholesome, Grumpy Sharks gathered 43 moments that range from tear-jerking to giggle-inducing. These are the fathers who show up wearing fairy wings to tea parties, who learn how to braid hair via YouTube, and who quietly beam with pride over their kid’s macaroni art like it belongs in the Louvre.
So whether you need a break from the doom-scroll or just want to feel good about humanity for once, this collection is your emotional support dad-content. Warning: may cause spontaneous smiling and an uncontrollable urge to hug your old man.
#1. 6 years, 3 IUI cycles, 6 IVF attempts, 3 miscarriages, 1 chemical pregnancy, 1 late term baby loss, $100k+ in medical bills, 1000s of injections, 9 months of stress and worry, 30+hours of labor, emergency C-section…Worth it. My son Lincoln, born 1/24/2017.
Source: tiktock34
#2. Son’s drawing of “safe”
Source: Reddit User
#3. Now I can officially join you. Our little chicken nugget blessed us with her presence today and I’m so in love. I’m officially one of you now !
Source: ElOhhYouuu
#4. Our son had a 1% chance to have a live birth. On 4/15 he defied the odds and is doing great!
Source: Lonogg
#5. After two daughters, it amazes me how different a little boy naturally behaves. Here he is forcing his way into helping his Grandpa fix our dishwasher.
Source: Shadrach451
All the moments in this list were proudly lifted from r/daddit, a subreddit where over 400,000 dads (and fans of dads) share parenting highs, humblebrags, advice, and sometimes just ask, “Is it normal to be this tired?” Spoiler: yes.
r/daddit is a rare online space full of empathy, vulnerability, and humor. It’s where a dad can post a photo of the pancakes he made in the shape of Pokémon and get a hundred comments saying, “You nailed Charmander.” It’s also where fathers open up about loss, mental health, and the messy joy of raising tiny humans.
Grumpy Sharks chose posts that showcase the best of what it means to be a modern dad—supportive, funny, flawed, and full of heart.
#6. A close friend of mine left this note for his daughter this morning after she went to bed worrying about the election [Not taking sides; just thought it was sweet]
Source: Portgrace
#7. My son kept saying “Elmo” in when he was in the bathroom…
Source: ShoJoATX
#8. Probably the funniest email I’ve ever received from my son’s teacher. My 6 y/o’s kindergarten teacher sent me this email. I’m considering getting it framed. As someone who hated gym class… I find it very relatable. We did briefly review “choice words”. 😂
Source: CosmicRay25
#9. When my now 9YO daughter was 2 I found out she was not biologically mine. I left mom but kept being dad and faught for custody. I just found this note in her journal. Translation: “I have my best person to me sitting right next to me. His name is Dada. He has the best personality. He’s the best dad I could wish for in the whole world. If I could pick a dad, it would be my dad that I have right now.”
Source: WTAF__Republicans
#10. This guy Dad’s
Source: Fwoggie2
Gone are the days when fatherhood meant stoicism and “go ask your mother.” The new generation of dads is emotionally available, deeply invested, and unafraid to embrace their inner softie.
In this roundup, you’ll see dads hosting tea parties in full costume, standing outside school with handmade signs on their kids’ first day, and writing letters to their future children before they’re even born.
It’s not performative. It’s presence. These dads aren’t seeking applause—they’re just building trust, one tiny, love-soaked action at a time.
#11. Hoping it be a long time.
Source: Prestigious-Main9271
#12. After 12 years of trying, my daughter, my first, finally arrived. She’s perfect.
Source: jinxes_are_pretend
#13. My wife normally writes notes for our daughter’s school lunch. Since my wife’s away for work, my daughter has been worried that “dad’s just going to draw a stick person.” Jokes on her: I’m going to draw a sh*t tonne of stick people!
Source: SleepWouldBeNice
#14. Saw some vandalism on a parking sign today
Source: hoguemr
#15. And God help us all if it’s socks that are all colored just a *little* but differently
Source: DukeMacManus
A post on r/daddit once showed a dad helping his son walk again after surgery. Each day, they’d take a few more steps down the hallway. The dad captioned it: “He’s doing all the hard work. I’m just the guardrail.” That line broke me.
It summed up what great parenting really is—not fixing everything, but being there to catch the wobbles. To walk beside. To celebrate the inchstones just as much as the milestones.
#16. Annual photo follow up
Source: Hohlraum
#17. My wife helped a couple become fathers and delivered last Thursday.
Source: benstrikesback
#18. How it be
Source: lakeoceanpond
#19. No better feeling in the world than your daughter hugging and sleeping on you (age13 months old)
Source: NooJoisey
#20. My 5yo daughter was a Costco sample lady for Halloween
Source: justintevya
According to a study published in Child Development, children with actively involved fathers demonstrate stronger emotional regulation, higher academic performance, and more secure peer relationships.
And it’s not about quantity—it’s quality. Even small interactions, like reading a book or playing for ten minutes, strengthen the bond and increase a child’s sense of security.
So yes, that dad building Lego castles or showing up at dance recitals in sparkly eyeliner? He’s literally building his child’s emotional architecture.
#21. One of my favorite gifts from my daughter haven’t taken it off for 3 years now.
Source: Reddit User
#22. The look on her face makes every day worth while
Source: sweetzombiejesus9
#23. Thanks, Apple. I’ll let her know.
Source: Parelius
#24. My wife’s car died in a parking lot; she ubered home and I went to get it started and I get this text
Source: casedawgz
#25. PSA: Newborn wraps.
Source: Martin_TheRed
There’s a kind of magic in the mundane acts fathers do daily: packing lunches, troubleshooting nightmares, fixing things that aren’t really broken. But then there are the bigger moments—the “drop everything and drive across state to help” moves. The silent sacrifices. The smiles through burnout.
Many posts on r/daddit reveal a truth not often said aloud: being a dad is hard. But it’s also deeply rewarding.
And when these dads open up—not just about joy, but about fear, uncertainty, and love—we all benefit.
#26. My daughter and her favorite doll
Source: iamf*ckked
#27. This little heart on my hand is called a “cuddle button”. Since my wife died last year, my 4y/o daughter has hated being away from me. Her teacher draws this on both our hands when I drop her off at school and every time we press it, it sends a hug to the other. It helps her feel connected to me.
Source: slightly-simian
#28. I just finished loading the car to take my oldest to college in the morning. Sometimes when l look at him I still see this little guy that wasn’t any bigger than my forearm when we brought him home. Driving back from that school is going to be rough.
Source: Brewer1056
#29. “Put this on Reddit and he’ll be a meme in 24 hours”
Source: pesqules
#30. Excellent dadding spotted in the wild
Source: andural
We all carry some version of a “dad” in our memory. Whether they were present, absent, loving, or complicated, the idea of a dad carries weight.
That’s why posts of a dad holding his newborn like a sacred artifact, or crying when his daughter says “I love you” for the first time—hit us hard. They’re not just about that family. They’re about us—what we wish we had, what we’re grateful for, or what we hope to be.
#31. Found him like this this morning. Poor lil legs are deflated
Source: Spurt_reynolds_
#32. I don’t need Maury to tell me who the father is. No denying he’s my son
Source: i_cwood
#33. This got me 10 minutes of laying down time
Source: AAMeye
#34. My six year old daughter has been asking for months to have a mohawk like her daddy. I cut it for her today. My kid is a right badass.
Source: KiltedRonin
#35. Follow me for more parenting tips
Source: Listerin35
Text your dad. Thank your partner. Share a post that made you laugh, cry, or cheer.
We, Grumpy Sharks, believe that fatherhood in its most wholesome form isn’t loud—it’s felt. And when it’s shared? It lights up the world.
#36. It was suggested that I post this here. When I first started trucking, I was told you can’t lose weight while driving a truck. In January I got serious about weight loss, motivated in part by my inability to play with my daughter. I have lost 90 pounds so far. Only 110 more to go.
Source: Clayton4NC
#37. My 2 year old’s insurance won’t be happy about this
Source: GreenEngrams
#38. Waited forty years for this…
Source: TheNorthernBaron
#39. An 8 year old’s to do list
Source: Bethesloth
#40. This highlights the dad responsibility
Source: Q-burt
#41. My baby like to sleep with his leg in the air for some reason
Source: Reddit User
#42. Happy “Wrapping Speakers in Cotton Eve” to all who celebrate
Source: DCisforBoners
#43. Am I wrong to be annoyed by this?
Source: StockmanBaxter
These 43 dads didn’t win the internet with flashy moves. They won it with quiet strength, silly dances, heartfelt words, and consistent love.
So if you’ve ever watched a man crouch at eye level and say, “It’s okay to be scared—I’ve got you,” you’ve seen the heart of fatherhood. And that’s worth celebrating.
