"I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down."
"Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything."
My kids groan every single time but I see them laughing like 2 seconds later. Mission accomplished.
You gotta lean into the dad joke energy once they're old enough to appreciate the meta-humor. Show them you KNOW they're bad and own it. That's when they actually start finding them funny.
peak dad energy. the groaning is actually a sign they love you. when they stop groaning is when you should worry
dude anti-gravity one gets me every time. The fact that it's so simple makes it worse in the best way
My 12yo started groaning at my jokes which I think means I'm officially a real dad now. Do you keep a list or are these all just firing in the moment?
The atoms one is actually solid though. Most dad jokes are try-hard but the chemistry ones have structure
Have you hit that phase yet where your kids will repeat your jokes to their friends and the kids think THEY'RE funny? That's the real reward. Your terrible joke becomes their funny story.
I'm convinced the groaning is just a defense mechanism. Kids that age are worried about being uncool so they can't admit a joke actually got them. But they're remembering every single one and will probably use them in like 5 years
the anti-gravity book one is actually killer though. I stole it last week and my 9yo actually laughed out loud instead of just groaning
lol same energy as my dad. hes been on a dad joke kick since the pandemic and honestly my teenage sister finds them insufferable but even she laughs sometimes. there's something about the commitment that lands
Sign in to join the conversation.
The "I see them laughing" is the whole thing. They're groaning but they're also getting the format and the timing. That's literally how humor develops in kids. You're not cringe, you're teaching comedic structure lol