Dads matter. Just ask whoever has grown up without one. After his "Dad, how do I?" YouTube channel went viral, Rob Kenney was dubbed as the "Mr. Rogers for adults" amid Father's Day Celebrations.
The YouTube channel for kids and adults without fathers
This 55-year-old man from Seattle, Washington started his YouTube page as a way to pass on "dadvice," as he calls it, to kids who grew up without a father figure like him. He's addressed a range of practical topics in his how-to videos for his more than two million followers, from tying a tie to jump-starting a car.
Also Read: The History Of Father's Day: 7 Facts About The Holiday's Origins
Kenney's journey, however, hasn't been easy. He was "an emotional wreck" at the beginning, he told TODAY.com. He had a difficult childhood. His mother was struggling with alcoholism, so his father and his siblings took full custody of him. Nonetheless, when Kenney was 14, his father "announced that he no longer wanted to have children," Kenney said.
He was taken in by his older brother Rick, even though Rick was a newlywed at the time and had not much space in his mobile home. Kenney now has two kids, Kristine, 27 and Kyle, 25. He had a powerful model for what he shouldn't be when he became a father.
"At a very young age, I determined I wasn't [going to] do that, that I wanted to do it the right way," he said.
While most of Kenney's videos address homework, he wants to expand to more substantial themes. A recent video titled "I'm proud of you!" encourages his followers, or "kids," to leave their comfort zone as he calls them, and not be afraid to take risks.
Many viewers share their stories of not having a good father figure
Around 85% of Kenney's audience are women between the ages of 25 and 40," according to Country Living, which makes sense given the content of many of Kenny's video clips.
Tutorials include fixing toilets, changing tires, jumping a car, ironing a dress shirt, and more. Channel videos are divided into five categories: Tool Tuesdays, Dad Chats, How-Tos: Bathroom Edition, How-Tos: Car Edition, and a miscellaneous section of How-Tos.
However, viewers aren't just coming for help to change a car battery. His videos are hitting home based on the comments section from users worldwide.
At the beginning of each video, Rob's typical greeting is: "Hey Kids!" One commenter noted, "I automatically want to say 'Hey Dad' when you say 'Hey Kids.'" Another person wrote, "You said, 'Hey kids! 'And I had to like to take a break and regroup for a sec."
Many responses apply to the "father jokes" he uses at the beginning of each video. Some commented on a recent video sharing their own jokes after a newly uploaded video didn't have one.
His viewers shared their own tales of growing up without a good father figure, he said. "The responses and the comments, that was a little overwhelming for me," he recalled.
Kenny said on June 15 that he partnered with Lowe's for a # dadbuiltthis challenge to honor the fathers around the country who show up day in and day out for their families.
Lowe surprised hundreds of dads with gift cards to support their DIYing and encourage them to keep fighting the good fight.
