18 Types of Dads You Definitely Know (And May Even be Married To)
The stereotypical image of a dad is the beer-loving, burger-flipping, slightly incompetent male who always has a groan-inducing joke up his sleeve. But come on, we know that’s not a fair portrayal of all dads—only some of 'em. Others fall into the Hipster Dad, Rad Dad, Intellectual Dad and Survivalist Dad category. Here, 18 types of dads you know and love (plus, a few you avoid like the plague at the playground).
18 Types of Moms You Definitely Know (and Probably Avoid in the School Pickup Line)
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1. Sports Dad
There’s not a sport he didn’t play in college (Go Beavers!), but these days he spends most of his time preparing his kid to go pro and playing fantasy football with the boys.
2. Beer Dad
He’s game for anything, but you better believe he’ll bring a cold one along for the ride. He’s also liable to offer you one, too—just be prepared for him to wax poetic about the craft brewery responsible for the magic.
3. Performative Dad
It’s not that he’s a better parent than you. It’s just that his kid, who may or may not actually be named ‘Buddy,’ likes to snack on broccoli, can sing Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” without missing a beat and never stops having fun. OK, so maybe he is a better parent than you.
4. Hipster Dad
He always wears a band shirt, his skinny jeans are so tight you can see his package and he has so many keys on the carabiner attached to his belt loop that you can hear him coming from a mile away.
5. Oversharer Dad
Often, but not always, a stay at home dad—the chatty dad just really wants to talk about all things parenthood with anyone who crosses his path. He’s also an open book and will tell you everything about his marriage, finances, childhood…and pretty please will you be his friend?
6. Rad Dad
He vapes at the playground and believes kids should be treated like adults, which is why his kindergartener has a latte every morning.
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7. Grandad Dad
The complete opposite of the Rad Dad, the Grandad Dad has never been hip. In fact, he started telling dad jokes when he was eight years old…and let’s just say nothing has changed.
8. Euro Dad
He spent a year abroad in Spain, insists on correcting you every time you use the word “soccer” (it’s football!) and doesn’t believe in bedtime.
9. Grill Dad
Grill dad is known to hibernate until Memorial Day weekend, but once barbeque season is in full swing, the man never leaves his station. If you want to socialize with him, you know where to find him…and if you want the best dry rub recipe around, you know who to ask.
10. Hobby Dad
Did you know that racing pigeons is a thing? Allow Hobby Dad to tell you all about it. He houses upwards of 200 sky rats in the coops he built on his property and he’d be happy to tell you just how he breeds and trains them for competition.
Spotted in the wild: Racing homing pigeons, of course.
11. Overwhelmed Dad
The male equivalent of the frazzled mom—the Overwhelmed Dad is always at least 15 minutes late for drop-off and isn’t entirely sure where he put his keys or how many kids he has.
12. Still a Kid Dad
He’s more excited for this weekend’s LegoLand trip than his six-year-old and gets his step count in playing freeze tag at the playground.
13. Instagram Dad
Instagram Dad publicly showers his kids with praise for their physical appearance (OMG, how cute does Layla look in that corduroy skirt?!) and believes every moment is a Kodak one.
14. Intellectual Dad
He can’t wait to tell you about the short story he just read in the New Yorker and loan you his copy of Infinite Jest…but if you allow screen time for your child, consider the friendship over.
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15. DILF Dad
He’s got the face of Pedro Pascal and the ass of Channing Tatum, yet he’s so friendly it’s like he doesn’t even know he’s a god among men.
16. Survivalist Dad
Survivalist Dad knows how to tie 150 different kinds of knots, owns The Forager’s Guide to Wild Mushrooms and has his original Boy Scout’s vest—badges and all—stowed in a keepsake box under the bed. His catchphrase: “Leaves of three, let it be.”
17. Frugal Dad
His kids have never been to the zoo because the cost of admission is just outrageous, but he knows the free days at every museum and attraction around. There’s always one question on his mind: “How much is this going to cost me?”
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18. ‘Do I Really Have to Be a Dad’ Dad
You’ll rarely, if ever, see this dad crack a smile at pick-up or drop-off. He really just wants to get in and out…and no, he doesn’t need to know your name.
