It’s Totally a Dad Thing: Why We Built That Dad Thing™

A couple of weeks ago, my daughter came into my office and HAD to show me a video.

In it was a dad joke.

"I know a lot of retirement jokes.
But none of them work."

She smiled and said, "That's totally a Dad thing."

And here's what struck me. She didn't just say, "Yep, that's my Dad." She had to share it with me. It was the connection we've always had. And honestly, I've had it with both my kids. Excuse me: "young adults."

It wasn't the joke that struck me. It was the connection. The instant recognition. The way she needed to needle me in the most loving way.

Because, let's be honest. I am totally that Dad.

And I just couldn't get it out of my head. "That's totally a Dad thing."

A Dad Thing?

Is there a Dad thing?

As a Dad for more than two decades, and after meeting countless dads from every walk of life, I can tell you with complete confidence:

Yes.

There is definitely a Dad Thing.

But what is that thing? What is it about dads that makes them so unexplained, yet so instantly recognizable at the same time?

And it's far more than just dad jokes. You know the ones. The ones you've heard over and over again. They pop up every time Dad meets someone new. But you lost count around six times, which was decades ago.

They're the ones you repeat back to him when he ends up doing the exact same thing he got upset at you for doing.

But for the life of me, I don't know if it's ever been documented from a dad perspective.

Sure, you can find articles, educational studies, and maybe even some government grant somewhere regarding "Who is Dad?"

What struck me was that when my daughter came in to show me that joke, it was a recognizable trait from her own experience with me. And you can't get that from a study. You get that by living with Dad. I get that from being that Dad.

The mannerisms. The logic. The corniness. The lovingly memorable embarrassments.

You know... That Dad Thing.

And that's why That Dad Thing was born, launching on his day: Father's Day 2026.

He's King for the Day one day a year.

And That Dad Thing is here to observe, celebrate, and archive the other 364 days a year.

• Observe: catch classic dad behavior in the wild.
• Celebrate: honor the ridiculous, useful, lovable things dads do.
• Archive: preserve the evidence for future generations.

That's our mission. That's why we're here. And I'm sure I speak for all dads when I say, "We deserve more than just a day."

Today, Dad will:

• receive socks
• receive tools
• receive gift cards
• be told he is appreciated

For approximately 24 hours.

Then, on Monday, he'll be expected to:

• mow the lawn
• adjust the thermostat
• take out the trash
• investigate strange noises
• explain why the Wi-Fi isn't working

Such is the burden of the crown.

And it's the tomorrow stuff where all the juice is. The things dads do 365 days a year that make us appreciate him, love him, and connect with him.

That's why you'll find more than shirts here.

You’ll find observations of dad behavior from the wild.

Dad-a-Pedia entries documenting the condition.

And The Garage, where we tell the stories behind it all.

So welcome to That Dad Thing.

Given time, we hope we'll have enough content for you to say, "Yep, that's my Dad." Dad Sightings submissions will come later, once the intake is ready. Until then, explore Dad-a-Pedia and The Garage. There’s plenty of dad behavior to recognize.