I made some comics about being a dad! The essence of dad-hacking is taking what you know how to do already and applying it to unrelated problems that would otherwise seem unsolvable. Is that a good way to approach difficult problems? I'll let you be the judge. At the very least, it's usually entertaining!
I love my kids and I love being a dad. They're funny and charming and they constantly help me see life from a different perspective. Life with kids is never boring.
That being said, being a dad is hard. It's impossible to know all the right answers to every big child-induced parenting dilemma, and a big part of parenting is figuring out how to do stuff you wouldn't otherwise know how to do. Usually, the quicker you learn to ask others for help, the better off you are! But where's the fun in that?
So, what's a dad to do when faced with a problem seemingly without a solution? Well, when all else fails, a dad digs down deep into those crusty cargo short side-pockets and pulls out a miracle... Get those keys, load up the kids, and run "errands".
I made these comics to document some of my successes, lots of my failures, and to give others a laugh at my expense. For your convenience, I've titled each comic with a dad-hack pro tip. Thanks for reading!
More info: Instagram | twitter.com | gogomachrocketsheep.com
#1 Get Some Earplugs
Image credits: GoGoMachRocketSheep
Making comics about “dad-hacking” is something that happened totally unintentionally. When I first became a dad, two instincts immediately activated: I desired to figure my life out, and I was compelled to mess with my kids whenever presented with the opportunity. That tension fuels the dad-hack: it's competence and incompetence mixed into one ill-conceived idea, executed with impunity; results vary. In the best-case scenario, whatever I’m trying to do works. Worst-case scenario, my kids laugh. It’s a win-win! After a few years of making comics, I noticed a theme common throughout them all. Dad-hacking.
#2 Encourage Artistic Expression
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#3 Teach The Power Of Negotiation
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The ideas for my ‘dad-hack’ comics are mostly inspired by true stuff that happens in and around my household. I’d say my ‘dad-hack’ comics are truth-adjacent; they aren’t an accurate retelling, but a joke version that is crammed into four panels. For example, my daughter didn’t destroy the world by playing a song on her plastic recorder- but for a few ear-ringing minutes, it sure felt like that’s what was happening.
#4 Grab A Power-Nap
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#5 Seize The Day
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My kids are a HUGE influence on the comics I make in two ways: first, I want to make comics that make them laugh. Second, I find much of what they say and do to be so funny that I must immortalize it in comic form. As a dad, I get a ton of joy out of seeing little glimpses of who my kids are growing up to be. I especially enjoy it when they bring out their incredible sense of humor and make others laugh.
#6 Get Your Priorities Straight
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#7 Instill Healthy Fear
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Most parents inherently get the humor in my comics. I’m currently a university student (and about a decade or two older than most of my classmates) and I shared a book of my comic strips with one of my classmates who read them and said, “Wow- you’re such a dad.” I couldn’t tell if he meant it dismissively, or as a compliment. Either way: Mission accomplished.
#8 Maintain Your Fatherly Physique
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#9 Find Creative Solutions
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There is a humorous side of parenting and there is a challenging side of parenting. In my experience, you don’t really get one without the other. When it comes to the comics I make, I always try to find and express the humor that is inherent in the challenges.
#10 Slow Down And Enjoy Life
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#11 Embrace Summer Fashion
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I think my comics are relatable to parents and non-parents alike; parent or not, we all fail from time to time. Hopefully, people laugh at my comics, but more than that, hopefully, my comics inspire people to take pride in their own attempts to get stuff right, to learn to laugh at themselves when they get it wrong, to bring a good sense of humor to any situation and to remember to keep what’s really important to them as their top priority.
#12 Watch The Shows Your Kids Watch
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#13 Ask Clarifying Questions
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#14 Go With The Good Ideas
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#15 Model Good Sportsmanship
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#16 Bring The Kids With You
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#17 Share Your Expertise
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#18 Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder
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#19 Be Humble
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#20 BBQ As Much As You Can
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#21 Properly Manage Expectations
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#22 Get On Board With Making Meal Plans
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#23 Be Affectionate
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#24 Take Lots Of Pictures
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#25 Learn From Others
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#26 Embrace Efficiency
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#27 Stay Caffeinated
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#28 Prevent Overheating
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#29 Be Practically Minded
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#30 Gamify Your Life
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#31 Keep It Short
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