Dads, there’s truly nothing like ’em. From bothering you about your outfit choice when he’s rocking socks and sandals, to picking on your favorite music while he’s still jamming to 80s hair bands, there’s truly nothing off limits.
If you didn’t have to deal with your fair share of “dad-isms” growing up, here’s your crash course in all things fatherly. These were real notes left by fathers to their offspring…
Animal LUVR
This dad clearly cares about his fish and dog, arguably more than his kid. After all, a dog is man’s best friend—feed the dog and no one gets hurt. Dog dad’s mean business when it comes to their furchildren.
Lazy Level 10
While usually, we rely on Dad to always have the answers, this just wasn’t one of his finer moments. Instead of looking under the bed himself, he instead found a pen and paper and wrote a note about the unidentified object—an all-time lazy level 100 move.
No Shame
Look, it goes without saying that parents have a favorite child, but that’s just the thing, it’s supposed to go WITHOUT SAYING. C’mon dad.
Take a Hint
Look, cars just aren’t most girls’ thing and that’s ok. Put the wrong gas in and things can quickly go south. This note was just Dad’s way of preventing the “Dad, there’s something wrong with the car” phone call.
Safety Patrol
Mom’s are typically the family worry-wart, so when dad expresses concern, it’s something to really consider. It never hurts to give your kids a reminder to ditch their phones when driving.
Chefboyar-DAD
When it comes to cooking, sometime you gotta dumb it down for a novice. This father was taking no chances when it came to preparing dinner the right way. Sometimes, you just gotta speak their language to get things done.
Lint Monster
Just look at this beast of a lint monster. Good ol’ Dad had to chime in here in the most dad way ever to teach his kids that lint = fire.
A Man of Few Words
This note for Em was straight to the point—three words, one delicious meaning.
FYI
Sometimes, being a parent feels as if you’re just an eternally broken record. And sometimes, no matter how many times you’ve repeated yourself, it takes an obnoxious sign to get the job done—just ask this dad.
Ice 411
If you ever had to manually make ice, this is a battle you know all about. Whoever is the last one to take the ice, better refill that tray. Don’t be that guy.
Oh No He Didn’t
When it comes to female-land, dad’s are not always the most well-versed. To this father, if it looks like toothpaste, it’s toothpaste… until, it’s not toothpaste, and it’s Vagisil. Ouch.
China is for Humans
Dad wasn’t too happy about Terry using human dishes for the dog. Can’t blame him. Mom, on the other hand, wasn’t thrilled about Dad’s waste of an envelope to convey the message. He really can’t win.
Overheard
For a child to come out to their parents, it’s a big deal, but this dad’s note let his son know there really was nothing he had to plan in order to share the news. It was no big deal—he was out, just like his parents at dinner. Sometimes dad’s do say the right thing.
Dad Jokes
Corny humor is a dad’s bread and butter. This one in particular reveals dad’s age a bit, pointing out Scott Baio, an actor who got his start in the late 70s.
Under the Bed
In typical dad fashion, fear is funny. Monsters in the closet and under the bed are a pretty typical belief for young kids, so instead of easing his child’s fear, he instead turned it into a moment of truth. Everyone knows monsters are stealthy.
Keepin’ It Real
Dad left this honest note for Tammy about the dog doing his business. Everybody poops, right?
Play with Your Food
When mom leaves a chore note, dad makes it fun. Gotta hand it to dad, he really got creative with this bit.
Golf & Brownies
Dad’s a simple guy who enjoys simple pleasures, like a round of golf and some fresh-baked brownies. When Brooke whipped up a fresh batch, she was sure to share with dad, knowing it was the key to his sweet-loving heart. Naturally, he had to leave a thank you note.
Remotely Controlled
Dad got his revenge when his family lost the television remote, by taking it to work with him, leaving them to manually change the channel on the TV—Dad lessons, they’re annoying, but also hilarious.
One Hot Bird
Dad took care of the Thanksgiving turkey, and he wanted to make sure everyone knew how AWESOME it was going to be.
Friendly Reminder
The car door seems like the best place to leave a reminder… just ask this Dad. Wouldn’t want to burn the house down, right?
Life-Changing
Welcome to the real world, kid, where crust is not magically removed from bread. Truth hurts.
Investment Protection
In typical parental fashion, they want their daughter to be responsible with their investment… her wedding dress. This note’s a little rough, but then again, when have parents ever sugar-coated the truth?
Napkin Notes
Leave it to Dad to always have an ulterior motive. Ever get a note on your napkin from your mom or dad? They were really just out to embarrass you further.
RIP Remote
Back to the manual days of getting up and turning it on through the actual television, at least, until new batteries arrive. Consider it a historical life lesson.
Love, Father
When Dad needs a cold one, sometimes he’s gotta order it via snail mail. C’mon Kiah, make it quick.
Surprise Notes
Dad decided to leave a funny note for his son, know full-well that he’d be going through the SI Swimsuit mag. Caught red-handed, pal.
More TP, Please
This dad went above and beyond to teach his kids to refill the TP roll when they finish it, turning the roll into a face that needs to be fed toilet paper.
Comedic Lunch
Listen, Meatbag: eat your lunch or Bender gets it. Love, dad. Props for the artwork, Dad—that’s impressive.
Stating the Obvious
Well, he makes a great point. Unfrozen ice cream is just plain ol’ cream.
Baby Fight Club
The first rule of baby fight club: file baby’s nails so they don’t look like they’re in baby fight club.
Apple a Day
Food personification: it works like a charm.
Protective Father
“The Management” would like to keep everyone alive should there be a fire. Burning to a crisp isn’t an option on Dad’s watch.
Hot Lunch
When you’re notorious for forgetting your lunch, you need reminders placed by something you KNOW you will see. Dad left a personal reminder on the car door handle.
Worthy Adversary
This dad is about 105385 years ahead of the rest of us. Need a way to get your kids to quickly get things done? Here’s a tip: change the WiFi password and watch them work.
Labeled Lunch
Not to be confused with her brother’s lunch money, Dad labeled the cash so it wasn’t a free-for-all in the morning.
Beer at the Ready
Wine and beer in the fridge at all times is a sign of a well-weathered parent who is always prepared.
Always Watching
Kids refuse to clean up their dirty clothes? Not if the angry laundry basket is on watch.
Healthy AF
When your kids forget to eat healthy, a little reminder doesn’t hurt. Yes, you.
Taken Seriously
Sometimes, a little creativity goes a long way. This Father took it upon himself to reenact a scene from ‘Taken’ to get his kids to clean up after themselves or else…
Sandwich Game
How innovating—can’t believe we didn’t think of it.
Label of Love
Let’s be honest, all light switches should have labels. Thanks to this Dad, “switchgate” was solved.
Dark Humor
In typical dad fashion, important information gets shared in a packed lunch.
Mom -vs- Dad
The difference between a mother and a father in one simple photo. Hopefully Eric remembered all these dos and don’ts, particularly the one about messing with the Idaho womenfolk.
Self-Sufficient
“I’m hungry” is the infamous complaint heard by parents around the world. Here, a simple bullet-point list from Dad, clears up the hunger issue.
Consider the Options
Leave it to dad to cheer his son on about his girlfriend staying over in a witty note after finding a pair of ladies sunglasses. Wonder what mom would have to say?
Daddy’s Girls
Daughters are a Dad’s greatest treasure. When a dance recital is on the horizon, Dad’s always there to cheer them on.
Clean & Cool
“Deal with it” – every dad’s famous last words.
Unicorns and Sandwiches
This Dad is just doing what it takes to get his daughter to eat. Parents is a marathon, not a sprint.
Call Me, Maybe
Let the dog out and call me… maybe. Good one, Dad.
Make It a Good One
“Make” a good day—how smart is that? We oftentimes surrender our day to fate without knowing that, if we have a “bad day,” we can always turn it around and choose to make it good. That is some solid dad wisdom right there.
Chef Got Hungry
“He who makes the sandwich, earns the bite,” -Dad-ism.
Surf Safe
It’s every teenage boys’ nightmare for their parents to use their laptop. Luckily, dad was a good sport.
Last Bagel
While plenty of parents cater to their kids when it comes to the last bagel or donut, this father taught his son a hard life lesson: you snooze, you lose.
Curbing Your Appetite
There’s nothing that will kill your appetite quite like like parental affection. Gross, Dad.
Gamer Life
You know you’ve got a cool Dad when he pumps you up to take on the world of Zelda.
Choose Wisely, Emma
There’s nothing more dreaded than doing the dishes. But, hey, let this be a lesson to you, Emma. Wouldn’t want to break your Dad’s trust, right?
Lock in That Lyric
Hip Dads are the BEST Dads.
Honesty is the Best Policy
Girls will be girls and Dad wasn’t sugar-coating the truth to get them out of trouble.
The New ‘Wake and Bake’
‘Wake and Bake’ took on a whole new meaning when this man reached fatherhood.