What It Really Means To Be a #GirlDad (2024)

Dads love history, monuments, and museums. In one of nature’s cruelest twists, kids are, historically, not huge fans.

When I was a kid, my dad LOOOVED taking us to the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum. He was unphased by our groans and complaints, in fact he may have been fueled by them, as dads often are. It’s not that he didn’t care that we didn’t like it. Now that I’m a dad I realize he took ambivalence as a challenge, that he would be able to convince us of how fascinating it all really was.

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My family just got back from a trip to Washington DC for the White House Easter Egg Roll. The last time I was in DC was 30 years ago. I was 10. Coincidentally my son is now 10 (and my daughter is 12). So while we were sightseeing, I constantly compared it with what it must have been like when my dad took me there in 1993.

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Our flight left Cincinnati at 6:30am. We left our house at 3am, because dads love arriving super early for flights. Dads love to beat the rush and dads love early flights because the airport is less crowded. Etc etc etc. Some cliches are true.

One of the first things we did was walk by the White House. DC was eerily empty Saturday morning but walking along the north side of the White House a Secret Service SUV suddenly stopped and rolled down its window. “HEY!” Uh oh… “THE DAD!” Uh ohhhhhh.

Let me pause and say that my kids do not think I’m cool. Partly because nobody’s kids think their parents are cool but mostly because I am 100% absolutely positively NOT COOL. Their assessment is spot on. But this was as if I scripted a scene that attempted to convince them I am cool.

An impressive Secret Service Officer got out of the car and shook my hand. He said “We see celebrities a lot but I don’t normally stop. But THE DAD? I love your guys’ stuff.” (As contractually required I assured him our content is made by a team of talented creators and I’m basically a boring business guy at this point.)

He got his police dog out of the car and let the kids pet him, even though he’s a highly trained combat doggo.

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My son told him his goal was to play Joe Biden in basketball. The guy said, “Wellll I don’t know how athletic he is.” (Leaned closer and lowered voice.) “Well, actually I do but I’m not allowed to say.”

As he went back to patrolling, I gave my kids a knowing glance that asked, “Now do you think I’m cool?”

They responded with a glance back that unequivocally said, “Still nope. But the dog was cool.” Nonetheless, I am so grateful to that guy for stopping and raising my cool score from -1 to, perhaps, 0.

Did anything similar happen on my previous trip to DC in 1993? No because my dad’s meme game was trash due to memes not existing yet.

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The rest of the day was quintessential DC tourist stuff. So go ahead and play some montage background music in your head while you glance at pics. (Star Spangled Banner is a timeless choice but I’ll also accept My Country ‘Tis of Thee.)

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Cliche right? We even did the “Pretend to lean on the Washington Monument” pic.

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Did I appreciate DC more as a dad than as a 10-year-old kid? In ways words can’t describe. I stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial realizing this is the spot where Martin Luther King Jr gave the I Have a Dream Speech. I imagined throngs of people gathered. So much happened RIGHT HERE.

We went to Ford’s Theater, where Abraham Lincoln was shot. I imagined the what ifs. What if John Wilkes Booth DIDN’T do that? What if the gun jammed?

Life is tenuous. All of the moments that happened, both good and bad, celebratory and tragic, have led to the present and made our reality what it is. Historic spots, monuments, museums… they are documentation of the most important moments that got us here. They’re the inspiration for living a better life and making our children’s realities more rich and full.

I looked at my kids. Did they realize the enormity? Did they appreciate the history? My daughter said something so profound. (This is an exact quote. I wrote it down in my phone so I could get it just right.) She said, “You should be grateful to have kids like us. We’ve been up since 3am doing your crap.”

I think she gets it.

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In 2.5 days we walked over 60,000 steps. When we’d stop I’d say “I need to rest the ole gams.” (Gams being a funny word for legs.) This became our running joke. Because what is a family trip if not a series of inside jokes you can look back on later in life. So the theme of this trip was not historical reflection as intended, but rather “resting the gams.” When we walked through White House security for the Easter Egg Roll on our last day in DC, my son asked the Secret Service Officer, “Is this the gam resting station?”

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In 1993, we toured the inside of the White House. We couldn’t do that on this trip. Best I could offer was the South Lawn. What an amazing experience to walk the grounds. We saw the President, First Lady, the Easter Bunny, and Jimmy Fallon.

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My son shouted for the dancing duck to “hit the griddy!” What would the 1993 equivalent of this be? “Do the Macarena!”? Kids, hitting the griddy is just a modern version of the Macarena. Ruined the griddy. You’re welcome.

@thedad

An attempt was made @thejoelwillis #hitthegriddy

♬ original sound – The Dad

A guy in the VIP section saw a friend near us and came over to shake his hand. My son said, “Hey dude can I get one of those too?” (a handshake). The guy shook my son’s hand and said, “Nice to meet you. I’m Hunter.”

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True parenting media brand aficionados will appreciate this: I got to hang with Micaela Birmingham and Alison Bucalo from Scary Mommy!

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My kids’ favorite part? A pop up concert from Sofia Carson. In true dad fashion, I didn’t know who she was (despite her 16.3M IG followers) until my daughter told me she was Evie in The Descendents. Ah yes! Chillin Like a Villain! Historic.

@thedad

We were at the White House yesterday for the Easter Egg Roll. @Joel Willis’s son got a selfie with @SofiaCarson and his reaction (and the pic) are killing me 🤣

♬ original sound – The Dad

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I’ve exaggerated for comedic effect. My kids appreciated the history more than most would. Certainly more than I did in 1993.

As parents, we need to remind ourselves: the point of historic sightseeing with your kids is not to induce some epiphany about their unique place in history and the world; the point is to create memories with your kids that they’ll look back on and appreciate when they’re older.

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After I became a dad, when my kids were little, we invited my dad to go with us to the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum. I hadn’t been since I was a kid. Ya know what? Through adult eyes it really was fascinating. My dad won the challenge after all.

My kids humored us and were as interested as kids can get. But they got to spend time with their grandpa. That’s what it was about all along.

He passed away a few weeks later and that was one of the last times we saw him. I’ll be forever grateful that we took that last trip to the museum.

History isn’t only boring museums, statues, and lengthy esoteric plaques. History is personal: our family, memories, shared experiences, and inside jokes. Some fascinating, some boring. Some heroic, some tragic. That’s the stuff life is made of.

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What It Really Means To Be a #GirlDad (2024)

FAQs

What does #girldad mean? ›

a father of a daughter or daughters, especially one with only a daughter or daughters: He always thought he'd want a son, but now that he's a girl dad, he wouldn't change it for anything.

How does being a girl's dad change you? ›

Other dads may change because they become more emotionally aware and sensitive to their daughters' needs as they grow up, which in turn makes them more understanding of the needs of all women.

What are the characteristics of a girl dad? ›

A girl dad, by definition, is a thorough gentleman who treats his daughter the way she deserves. It reflects everywhere, in their social networks, maintaining work-life balance, and even being loyal to the organization where they work.

Why is being a girl's dad the best? ›

They are the best advisors and mentors throughout life. #GirlDads — whether they are standing on the sidelines, playing tea cups, wearing wigs or coaching — are always there for us. They never fail to show their love for their daughters, and they manage to always have their backs, even in their lowest moments.

Why do people say girl dad? ›

Urban Dictionary defines Girl Dad as “…a father who wants his daughter(s) to have the same rights, opportunities, and privileges as any boy. A Girl Dad empowers his daughter to carry on his legacy."

What is the quote about being a daddy's girl? ›

"Being a daddy's girl is like having a permanent armor for the rest of your life."

Does having daughters change men? ›

Becoming a parent is life changing, and when a daughter is part of that transformation, it can cause fathers to shift their perspective and imagine the world through her eyes. So, becoming a dad + having a daughter (first seems to be the most profound) = greater identification with women's issues.

Why do fathers love daughters more? ›

They love their daughter more to give them mental and emotional strength to cater the men's world out there. Its a hidden fear that maybe other man who will eventually come into her life will not give her love as much as they can so they want to fill heart with love before the hard times.

How to cope with being a girl's dad? ›

Here are some ways dads can embrace being a #girldad:
  1. It's no secret that girls tend to be more verbal than boys. ...
  2. Find something you can learn to do together or teach her a skill.
  3. Spend intentional time with her doing things she enjoys doing. ...
  4. Daddy-daughter dates are a thing.
Feb 10, 2020

How to tell if she's a daddy's girl? ›

When your daughter is a real daddy's girl, it can be hard to get a look in.
  1. They have a song that they sing together (and you're not allowed sing along).
  2. She is the only one who laughs at his jokes.
  3. They have a secret language that you haven't a clue how to translate.
  4. They will always go to him when they want something.

What does a girl inherit from her father? ›

Daughters get two X chromosomes, one from Mother and one from Father. So Daughter will inherit X-linked genes from her father as well as her mother. Examples of X-linked recessive disorders are hemophilia, red-green color blindness, and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

What makes dads attractive? ›

The Dad Bod Puts Family First

The sexiest dads are the ones who think of their family before themselves. Before kids entered the picture, spouses may have admired their partners' chiseled muscles and bachelor-style bods — but as soon as children arrived, priorities (and attractions) tend to shift.

How to be a good girldad? ›

Break down communication barriers
  1. Listen without making judgements. ...
  2. Acknowledge her emotions. ...
  3. Don't draw attention to her appearance or tease her about the way she looks. ...
  4. Spend time enjoying father daughter activities. ...
  5. Write a letter to your daughter. ...
  6. Let her see the real you and get to know you better.

Are moms or dads more important to daughters? ›

A good relationship with their father will help girls to become strong and confident women. As the most important man in his daughter's life, the father is irreplaceable. Meeker emphasises that only a father can give his daughter certain things. He does not have to do anything extraordinary.

Do fathers prefer their daughters? ›

They find that the preference-based explanation is likely—that fathers care more about sons than daughters, and mothers don't display that tendency.

Who started GirlDad? ›

If you haven't heard it already, the origin story of #GirlDad is an interview Bryant gave to ESPN anchor Elle Duncan before his fourth child, Capri, was born. In response to a question about how he'd feel about yet another daughter, he said: “I would have five more girls if I could. I'm a girl dad.”

What does my paternity mean? ›

Paternity is the establishment of the identity of a child's legal father. This often occurs through the use of genetic testing. By John Mascolo, Esq. | Legally reviewed by Joseph Fawbush, Esq.

Is it normal for your dad to call you baby girl? ›

Yes, as long as it's not with sexual undertones. I called mine Baby Girl all the time. She was fine with it.

What does mommy daddy mean in slang? ›

Mummy Daddy means 'Momma's boy' - someone who's straight-laced, doesn't get into trouble, and is a goody two shoes.

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