Rob Kenney has been dubbed the “Internet’s Dad” after starting a Youtube channel called “ Dad, How Do I? (They think), 'Wait a second, he's been pretending to be perfect, and now I've discovered he's not. And, of course, to Kenney himself — who has one heck of a heart-wrenching backstory with his own dad. When you're in high school, it can be a little bit ugly when you're not the popular kid, and you haven't really hit your stride yet ... Just wait it out. YouTube channel, which has seen more success than he ever dreamed. Hart made this post at 7:26 a.m. By 7:38 p.m., Kenney’s views had multiplied to 10 times the number of followers. Hart says that while his own parents are divorced, he had a present father. ” has found its way into everyone’s hearts after recently going viral thanks to Reddit and Twitter. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Dallas with no paywalls. One dad in particular has been blowing up YouTube with his wholesome tutorials on how to complete common household projects and fix pesky problems. Well, one dad aims to change that with his YouTube channel dedicated to helping young adults with everything from fixing a running toilet to checking your car’s oil—a.k.a. YSK That there is a Youtuber called "Dad, how do I?" The channel grew from zero subscribers to 400,000 in a matter of weeks. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. Hart says he messaged Kenney and they had a brief exchange on Facebook. “I don’t know this man, but he got an instant subscribe from me,” Hart continued on his post. What else has he not been real with me about?' “I just thought it was a super great message and super wholesome so I screen-shot it and posted,” Hart says. Kenney told WICU that he runs the channel with his daughter, who frequently calls him with "adulting" questions. Rob Kenney gives expert "dadvice" on YouTube. Someone had just uploaded a screenshot of Kenney’s videos, which had a decent number of followers, 40,000. "Obviously there's a lot more to being a dad than being able to screw in a light bulb or whatever," he said. “This YouTuber’s dad walked out on his family when he was 12 years old,” Hart wrote on his page. It’s stories like these that give me hope for humanity.”. The fear can really be crippling ... Just go ahead and do it. Don't care what other people think.". You cry out to him and he's there. All rights reserved. Hart tells the Observer that he learned about Kenney “super early in the morning” while browsing through Reddit. Kenney with his wife, kids and father. In a recent video Kenney posted called “We need each other!” he speaks about generational gaps, his YouTube community and courage. Chris Hart found the YouTube account "Dad, How Do I?" videos give us the father we need in the pandemic They are saying you’ll be able to to find absolutely anything on YouTube. ... You've got to do something to separate yourself from all the other people ... You have to be pretty creative. In his latest video, titled “THANK YOU,” posted on Wednesday, Kenney told his followers: “I just have such a heartfelt thank you.” He finished the video by telling a dad joke, after admitting that even he finds them “awkward.” And it was. He's not an idol where you have to go through all these rituals to reach him. YouTube's purest channel, 'Dad How Do I?' Rob Kenney, the "Internet Dad" behind the viral YouTube channel "Dad, How Do I?" At the time, Hart only had 1,100 friends on his page, so he didn't assume it would reach such a wide audience. The 55-year-old from Seattle, Washington, started the account as a way to pass on "dadvice," as he calls it, to people who, like him, grew up without a father figure. But he's had partners and friends without father figures. Kenney has an everyman charm — unlike a fame-seeking influencer, he’s a helpful, paternal neighbor. For more of Rob's videos, subscribe to his YouTube channel "Dad, How Do I?" For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Join the Observer community and help support independent local journalism in Dallas. posted by Jason Kottke May 20, 2020 When he was a kid, Rob Kenney had a rough family life and grew up without stable parents around to teach him how to do … By your words, you can take courage away from somebody, and that's powerful, too. While she happily writes about a range of topics, from pop culture to politics, she has a special interest in in-depth health coverage, especially COVID-19 research, women's health and racial health disparities. “What an amazing, selfless thing to do for someone else. I had no idea,” he says. In a few days, he’s become the internet’s substitute father. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. ", "It shows respect for the other person, and ... it takes a while to restore your good name if you blew it. Possibly even the dad you by no means had – or a minimum of the fatherly suggestion and confirmation. While most of Kenney's videos address tasks around the house, he wants to expand to heavier topics. YouTube star blends how-to and heart: 'Dad, How Do I?' His YouTube channel, called ‘Dad, How Do I?’, aims to teach youth the valuable lessons a father is meant to teach. He began with how to tie a tie, and has since covered tasks like changing your car’s oil, ironing a dress shirt, and using a stud finder. An Arizona woman discovered a YouTube channel called “Dad, How Do I” hosted by a man who grew up without a father⁠—and teaches basic skills, like tying a tie⁠ or fixing a toilet—… By clicking 'X' or continuing to use the site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. "At a very young age, I determined I wasn't gonna do that, that I wanted to do it the right way," he said. Hart says that his Facebook page is now “unusable” as a medium to communicate with friends as it’s flooded with notifications about shares, comments and friend requests. 78,175 likes. and track progress charts, view future predictions, related channels, and track realtime live sub counts. Report a correction or typo. On it, Rob Kenney dads his way through a variety of vital life lessons. Hart says that a friend of his who works as a social media and marketing professional reached out to him a few hours after his post went viral. Help, Dallas' independent source of local news and culture. A few hours later, his story made several headlines in national outlets. Since we started the Dallas Observer, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Dallas, and we would like to keep it that way. To find out more, visit our cookies policy and our privacy policy. ROB KENNEY: So I call my YouTube subscribers my kids. Luckily, a man named Rob Kenney is helping to solve this issue with his YouTube channel, “ Dad, How Do I ?” On his wholesome channel, he doles out fatherly wisdom to his viewers. It's not even June and there’s already a perfect Father's Day story melting our hearts on the internet. The Dallas Observer may earn a portion of sales from products & services purchased through links on our site from our affiliate partners. Now, Kenney has two children, Kristine, 27, and Kyle, 25. “Did you hear the joke about the butter?” Kenney began before interrupting himself. They include "dadvice" on “how to fix most running toilets” and “how to iron a dress shirt.”. The pandemic has brought us some wild characters on YouTube these days and sometimes, you get a gem. He went viral thanks to a post from a Dallas man. Kenney had a hard childhood. If you tell somebody you're going to be there, you should be there, and if you're not going to be there on time, you better let people know. series that has gone viral! ” this past April — and his how-to videos have since gone majorly viral. A recent video titled "I'm proud of you!" The Dad, How Do I? Kenney’s subscribers had then reached 200,000 and even then, the friend told him, Kenney likely wouldn't have to work anymore based only on his potential income through YouTube views. The word 'courage,' it's like power ... and then if you add to it and you put 'encourage,' you can give that courage away to somebody ... but the other side is 'discourage.' “I think the highest share count I had before this was 50, I think, and I was shocked when that happened, too.”. Staff, A US father has warmed hearts worldwide after creating a YouTube channel inspired by his dad leaving when he was a child. “[Kenney's account] was something that kind of resonated with me that I know it will have a lot of impact on people who didn’t have that kind of figure in their lives.”. has teamed up with Lowe's to give away 10 $5,000 gift cards to deserving dads this Father's Day Dad becomes a YouTube star while doling out 'dadvice' during pandemic. Family Inspirational Tips & Tricks Video Dad That Grew Up Without A Father Starts A Youtube Channel To Teach Young Adults Basic Skills. Dallas Restaurant Directory: Takeout/Delivery/Dine-in, North Texas Man Posts About YouTuber Dad, Making Him Famous in 12 Hours, The Coolest Homes to Shelter in Place in Dallas, Be Our Guest: A Dallas Food Blogger’s Disney-Themed Dinners Go Viral, 60 Cool Women-Owned Businesses You Can Support in Dallas. Like the founder of the "Dad, How do I?" The lessons in Kenney’s videos, which teach people basic life skills like how to iron a dress shirt or how to check your car’s oil, recall the plot of My Life, a 1993 tearjerker where Michael Keaton plays a terminally ill man who makes videos to leave behind for his unborn son. Maura Hohman is a Brooklyn-based weekend editor and reporter for TODAY Digital who joined the team early in the coronavirus pandemic. USA TODAY - They say you can find just about anything on YouTube. YouTube Channel to Help Kids After Growing Up Without a Father, a Man Made a Helpful YouTube Channel For Kids … In April, Rob Kenney, 55, started his YouTube channel “ Dad, how do I? encourages his followers, or "kids" as he calls them, to leave their comfort zone and not be afraid to take risks. “It’s like the wildest experience I’ve ever seen as far as how quickly it went viral.". Maybe even the dad you never had – or at least the fatherly advice and affirmation. It 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." He didn't have a great dad growing up. With his new YouTube channel “Dad, How Do I?” the Washington resident shares weekly tutorial videos where he demonstrates how to do everything from fixing a faucet to jumping a car—awkward dad jokes included. Dad, How Do I…? But when Kenney was 14, his father "announced he didn't want to have kids anymore," Kenney said. It's easy to just (think), 'This is my only way to get this thing going.' Even though he's gone viral for all the right reasons, the journey hasn't been easy. Dad, how do I? "How To" videos by a dad who has raised 2 adults (and we still talk). ", "I used to teach Sunday school, and I would put up on the board the word 'courage.' He shares practical advice, that he calls “Dadvice,” and it helps with tasks that you may do every day. His Dad walked out on him when he was 12, he makes maintenance vides for people with no Dad. Kenney’s own dad left his family when he was 12, leaving him without a father figure to support or teach him simple things like how to shave. Careers, YouTube page went viral, Rob Kenney became known as the "Mr. Rogers for adults.". ", "I've had to walk alongside both my kids with that. “I thought two or three people, 10 max, would like it. Rob Kenney is the Da ", "You hear people say, 'Oh, I'm angry at God.' Privacy, “Now that he’s a father of his own two adult children, he’s created a YouTube channel called 'Dad, how do I?' Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. where he posts videos of common tasks you might ask your dad for help with, so that children without fathers can use his videos as a resource.”, The YouTube channel belongs to Rob Kenney, a Chicago father who decided to use his time in quarantine to upload useful videos with instructions on how to tackle simple household woes as well as basic DIY tasks. At the beginning, he was "an emotional wreck," he told TODAY Parents, because his viewers were sharing their own stories of growing up without a good father figure. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. After his "Dad, how do I?" The videos range from general life advice to the practical, like how to shake hands with confidence and how to shave your face, just like a video Kenney posted in April. “I’ve seen the emotional impact that it’s caused in their lives, and it’s kind of stuck with me,” Hart says. How to help people impacted by the weather crisis in Texas, After his "Dad, how do I?" Now, having raised two children to become successful, well-adjusted adults, Kenney is on a mission to become the Internet’s dad. IE 11 is not supported. ", "If you have a talent or something you've always wanted to do and the thing that's holding you back is, 'What will others think of me?' Kids are gracious. The sincerity in Hart’s recommendation resonated with his friends, and his post has now been shared more than 600,000 times. A few days later, YouTuber Rob Kenney, has 1.6 million subscribers. The comments on his videos make for a rare, sunny space in the internet, a forum of support for those who have lost or have estranged relationships with their fathers. They're quick to forgive you if you just admit it, but unfortunately, we don't always ... Our pride gets in the way. Contact Us, Here, Kenney shares more "dadvice" for complicated life challenges. ", "Sometimes you have to think outside the box to move the needle. "We talk about all kinds of things — finances, and what do you do with this, and what do you do with that.". The Seattle area father-of-two calls the series “Dad, how do I?” Since launching a month ago, he already has over 2 million followers. Support the independent voice of Dallas and help keep the future of Dallas Observer free. Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our terms of use, our cookies policy, and our privacy policy. “Not that he will," Hart says of Kenney. With Father's Day around the corner, dads have been especially top-of-mind lately. Dad Makes "Dad, How Do I?" When he became a father, he had a powerful model for what not to be. View the daily YouTube analytics of Dad, how do I? “I’m just excited that it got so popular because I think what he’s doing in his message is super awesome.”. Not only do they always have the perfect dad jokes ready to go, but they also just seem to know how to do, well, everything. In April, Rob Kenney, 55, started a YouTube channel called "Dad, How Do I?" Kenney said he forgave his father, and they had a relationship before he died in 2015. Rob Kenney’s massively popular YouTube channel, “ Dad, How Do I? Classic lame dad joke). CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS: California Privacy Policy | California Collection Notice | Do Not Sell My Info. "I just blew it… did you hear the rumor about the butter?”. Related topics: seattle localish inspire youtube all good father's day localish wls. Now, he's offering advice for millions of kids and adults like him. "But he has the option of not working and creating this content full time if he wants… which I thought was pretty cool.”. About Us, If you pretend to be perfect, your kids are going to find out you're not, and that's where a lot of rebellion happens. Terms, Kenney and his family at his daughter's wedding. When quarantine began this spring, he started a YouTube channel, where he posts videos explaining how to do things you might learn from your dad. ©2021 Dallas Observer, LP. and posted about the "selfless" Chicago man behind it. KING: The 56-year-old has two grown, real kids, but thanks to his new channel called Dad, How Do … His older brother Rick took him in, even though Rick was a newlywed at the time and didn't have much space in his mobile home. Circulation, Kenney wrote that he and his daughter had been “real emotional all day and in shock,” Hart says. We use cookies to collect and analyze information on site performance and usage, and to enhance and customize content and advertisements. His mother struggled with alcoholism, so his father took full custody of him and his siblings. I just think it's a little bit disrespectful to not honor that. Rob Kenney's channel … In his how-to videos, he's addressed a range of practical topics, from tying a tie to jump-starting a car, for his more than 2 million followers. that explains everyday things that might need a father-figure to help you with. Support Us is taking the internet by storm. As Kenney explained it, "There's more to being a dad than just running around and fixing things. Share: “It was crazy how quickly it took off — within an hour of posting it, it had 300 shares and it was just an exponential growth,” he says. "The responses and the comments, that was a little overwhelming for me," he recalled. The videos are short and simple. YouTube page went viral, Rob Kenney became known as the "Mr. Rogers for adults." On Tuesday, PepsiCo data analyst Chris Hart, a Rockwall native who now lives in Carrollton, found a YouTube account called “Dad, How Do I?” that moved him so much that he took to Facebook to make a heartfelt appreciation post. Just tell him ... You can just be honest ... Just pour your heart out to God and ask him to show you. “Hey, kids!” That's how Internet how-to guru Rob Kenney often greets his more than 3 million subscribers on his popular “Dad, how do I?” YouTube … Kenney was also bombarded with messages of people sharing their stories, as well as reporters, Hart says. We're never too old to ask our dear old dad for DIY advice, and one dad has created a YouTube channel to help with that. Now a dad himself, Kenney decided to create a YouTube channel that teaches kids in similar situations lessons he missed out on growing up. Kenney now has 1.6 million subscribers. When Rob Kenney's father left his family during his teenage years, Kenney committed himself to being a present and loving dad …