Dad Who Grew Up Without A Father Starts YouTube Channel For Learning Basic Skills
It can be hard to manage life without someone guiding you along the way. As much as there are certain things we can only learn by ourselves, there is tons of information that we get that's passed down between generations.
On dad took it upon himself to create his own YouTube channel "Dad, how do I?" that teaches skills you'd normally "ask your dad" about. He was inspired to share the skills he himself had wished he received when growing up.
Plenty Of Kids Don't Grow Up With Two Parents
Those with an absentee parent miss out on the things they would have taught them as they grow up.
So, this dad made a channel for people who (for whatever reason) have missed out on specific "dad lessons". Spoiler alert: it's the cutest thing ever.
How This YouTube Channel Went Viral
In April of 2021, Rob Kenney, 55, started a YouTube channel called "Dad, How Do I?"
The channel grew from zero subscribers to 400,000 in a matter of weeks. A series of tweets and TikToks about him and his channel went viral, and now he has more than 3 million subscribers.
This Channel Has Potential To Win An Award As "The Most Wholesome YouTube Channel Ever"
The channel features basic lessons that are stereotypically passed down from a father to a child, like "how to shave your face" or "how to use a stud finder."
This way, those who grew up without a dad have a friendly face to rely on for some practical life lessons. He even opens each video with a cheery "Hey, kids!" I'm not crying, you are!
Kenny's Story
According to a recent interview he did with Shattered magazine, when he was just 14, Kenney's dad abandoned him and his siblings.
After his dad left, Kenney moved in with one of his older brothers.
Kenny's Kids Have All Left The Nest
Kenny has since gotten married and raised two children of his own, and both are all grown up now.
His daughter, Kristine, 27, works with young kids. His son, Kyle, works as a software engineer.
Why He Created The Channel
Kenney said that he wanted to leave a legacy, particularly for those who struggle with a broken family or absent parent.
The videos cover many topics, such as: checking the oil, checking your tire pressure, and how to fix a running toilet. Other examples are how to tie a tie and how to iron a dress shirt. Another thing about Kenny: he NEVER misses the opportunity to tell a good dad joke.
"Dad, How Do I?"
Many people have been overcome with the sweet purity of Kenney's channel. Some of his subscribers even call him Dad, or YouTube Dad!
Not only is the channel extremely heartwarming, but it also hits home for a lot of people whose father isn't present in their lives. The channel can also help those whose fathers have passed or if your dad isn't exactly "handy."
The Channel Is All About Teaching Everyday Tasks, But It's Also More Than That
Kenny wants his channel to be about everyday tasks (like fixing a toilet). But, in an interview, he mentioned that he also would like to pass along some of the wisdom that he's learned along the way to encourage people.
He originally thought that the channel was just going to be showing people how to do stuff, but it’s resonating with people on a whole different level.
From "Dad Chats" To "Tool Tuesdays"
The channel covers a variety of topics, but one of the most popular topics is "dad chats," where Kenny gives advice to his subscribers.
He recently made an innocent video titled "I'm proud of you," to thank his subscribers. Some people have never even heard from a parent.
He Just Wants To Help People
"I'm a bit of an emotional wreck," he admitted. And all I can say to that is: "dude, same here."
He acknowledges that the pain is pretty real in our world, and hopefully, his channel will help alleviate some of it. You can subscribe to his channel here.
