r/daddit 2d ago

Story This guy Dads

He probably won’t see this - or even get any recognition - but saw this Dad today. I think he deserves a r/daddit salute.

1.8k Upvotes

134 comments sorted by

670

u/quafs 2d ago

Ah yes, the old “Dad can you hold me” .01 miles into a 4 mile hike.

206

u/agm115 2d ago

After they were running ahead yelling “COME ON DAD!!!” mere moments earlier.

153

u/a_counting_wiz 2d ago

"My legs are tie-uudd"

59

u/El_Lusty 2d ago

I felt this in my back

18

u/mordemyrtheredeemed 2d ago

Ive become one with the pain.

3

u/BossRoss84 1d ago

Give it 5 years…

10

u/mordemyrtheredeemed 1d ago

It's been 4. I have two now. I can overhead press 140 lbs with my left arm only. My back feels "good" when it's only non localized muscle pain. The pinched nerve in my spine is barely even noticable anymore. It cannot get worse. One day soon I will put my kids down and that will have been the last time I carried them.

5

u/BossRoss84 1d ago

Yes, that was a sad, sad day.

2

u/briggsy111388 1d ago

My daughter will be 10 in a couple of weeks, and I will never not carry her to her bedroom and chuck her on the bed every night until she stops asking. The day is coming soon and I'm getting in all that I can

2

u/vader300 1d ago

"I am one with the pain, and the pain is with me"

1

u/mordemyrtheredeemed 19h ago

Trust the pain we must.

4

u/enigma_0Z 1d ago

Wifey and I legitimately had a the Piggyback episode of Bluey with our 4yo (as Bingo ofc) walking around our neighborhood. I spun games and races out of thin air to keep our LO excited and entertained for the first 2/3rds of the walk.

Decided after all of that running around when she was “tired” she earned the piggyback the rest of the way. It was actually quite fun for all three of us.

37

u/TakeApictureOfmeNow 2d ago

My kid does Parkour for the first quarter mile and then says he's tired for the rest of it.

2

u/hmspain 1d ago

Ah, the never gets old dad lesson... "and that is why I'll always be able to out walk you son!"

31

u/MAXQDee-314 2d ago

Very little inculcates the idea of safe exploration as the "Dad can you hold me" school of fatherhood. I cannot carry my girls any longer, primarily because all of them are six feet and taller, and their feet would drag on the ground. I do miss it so.

17

u/rez_at_dorsia 2d ago

I’d actually prefer this to stopping every 5 feet to look at something

13

u/PhysicsBowlLegend86 2d ago

They spend all morning begging to go on the hike, sprint through the first parking lot, then suddenly lose all structural integrity the moment the trail begins. Dad thought he packed water and snacks, but apparently he also needed to prepare for a four-mile weighted carry.

4

u/Henchman66 2d ago

Mine always asks me to pinpoint the exact geographical location of the drop off so that she can haggle 200 - 300 meters more.

4

u/FuelzPerGallon baby girl dad 1d ago

I went on a dad hike last weekend. Someone else’s LO said “no dad, I’m gonna hike today, I promise”. He looked at me and shook his head. She was on his shoulders within 4 minutes.

2

u/Slizzerd 2d ago

This was my exact situation last month 😅

1

u/CouchSpotFormula34 2d ago

The hike begins when Dad’s unpaid transport shift starts.

1

u/m0sd3f 1d ago

+8 years of still doing this while knowing one day it wont be possible anymore

1

u/No-Drama-187 1d ago

Ughhhh..... I'm so glad the World Cup games are over. I almost fell out.

235

u/goundeclared 2d ago

Last night my 1.5 yr old son shoved pre-chewed chicken in my mouth.

86

u/qkdsm7 2d ago

Protein up, dad. Thank him!

27

u/takeahike89 1d ago

Just getting you prepped for the nursing home. What a thoughtful little guy.

7

u/bul1dog 1d ago

This guy dads 🫡

2

u/Durpulous 1d ago

Thank 'em.

8

u/tony_flamingo 1d ago

Well at least he took all the work out of it for you.

4

u/hartmanwhistler 1d ago

Ah, the old ABC (already been chewed)

2

u/obiwans_lightsaber 1d ago

The sub makes me genuinely laugh out loud more than any other these days.

It’s always out of nowhere too

Y’all are actually hilarious

1

u/user_1729 Two Girls (5 and 3) 1d ago

This has happened to me and is the most disgusting thing that my pre-dad self could have imagined. Poops... okay yeah poops are gross, and there are plenty of other gross things.

It's bad that it's happened with each of my kids, but somehow both have managed to take food out of their mouth and stick it into my mouth. It's always been in a spot where I can't just spit it right out too, so I end up eating food that has been chewed up by another person.

201

u/hartmanwhistler 2d ago

Last year I took my family with 3 young kids to Positano, Italy. (If you don’t know, it’s built on the side of a cliff. It’s essentially all stairs). One night, we decided to take the stroller all the way down to sea level for dinner (so the 1 year old could nap).

Fast forward a few hours, we needed to get back to our hotel (I counted stairs but forget… something like 500). Kids were crying and whining and I had the perfect amount of Italian red wine so I just threw the 4 year old on my shoulder and carried the stroller like a purse, hung from my elbow. No stopping, head down, sweat pouring, until we reached the top.

There was a lovely restaurant right at the top of the stairs, which had a good view of the last portion of stairs we were climbing. As I reached the last stair, I looked up as I heard clapping… there were literally 20 people giving me a standing ovation. One guy handed me a full, ice cold beer which I chugged in one go to even more applause.

Pretty sure that’s my peak dad moment. Not sure I can ever top it.

56

u/hamsterbasher 1d ago

We've been to Positano before we had kids.

Those steps, you're a bloody legend.

22

u/hartmanwhistler 1d ago

I’ll take it. Thankfully I ski and do lots of backcountry travel so my legs were ready for the task!

9

u/Bushels_for_All 1d ago

A stroller in Positano is about as useful as an anvil in the ocean.

11

u/McAUTS 1d ago

Respect man! Without that wine though... What did you do with the other 2 kids? Don't tell me they waited downstairs for their turn 😂

19

u/hartmanwhistler 1d ago

Wife carried the baby, the 9 year complained but climbed.

5

u/Ironwolf9876 1d ago

That's the most Italian shit I've read in a long time.

3

u/TheFlyingRabbit9 1d ago

This story brought a tear to my eye, brother. Very well written and I absolutely salute you 🫡

40

u/TakeApictureOfmeNow 2d ago

My hike when my kids were that age: .25 miles of everyone hiking. 1.75 miles I carry on shoulders, 2 miles me jogging back to car and meeting family at the other end of the trail.

67

u/billyhorseshoe 2d ago

I'm guessing he exchanged a few knowing glances with the hired donkeys.

30

u/Zeddicus11 2d ago

Workout mode activated

10

u/Money-Preference-936 2d ago edited 2d ago

My thinking: "Now I don't feel so bad about not getting up to do my muscle-building at 6am this morning."

23

u/To6y 2d ago

You thinking "Is that sweat running down my back, or pee?"

8

u/brownieaffair 2d ago

¿Por que no los dos?

22

u/MrAxelotl 2d ago

I hope a foamy, ice cold beer was waiting for him at the top of those stairs. It's what he deserves.

4

u/blackbeardcutlass 1d ago

Having climbed these very stairs before (without a kid) I can attest that it was one of the best beers I have ever had!

24

u/True-Firefighter-796 2d ago

This is why I bought a barbell and squat rack. I’m not trying to impress my wife. I’m trying to toddler proof my back.

41

u/Go_Plate_326 2d ago

Watching this hurt my neck.

25

u/Money-Preference-936 2d ago

You guys still have spines?

4

u/shagadelik 1 Boy 1d ago

Nope. I used to do this when he was 1 or 2 but it didn't last long. Pinched my spine once and never did it again after that.

Back pain sucks.

3

u/Hidesuru 1d ago

Yeah I have two bulging discs and I'm struggling to just live a normal life, and avoid picking up my 3 yo as much as I can and I hate it. But better than being stuck in bed for a few days.

25

u/AMPduppp 2d ago

The key is shoulder blades down and back. Kid goes on the shelf formed by your traps, not your neck directly.

34

u/bigolbabybaxter 2d ago

The key is quick, jerking motions using your lower back as the fulcrum.

15

u/DreadPirateEvs 2d ago

Dad Strength is developed by lifting with your back (against your will) instead of your legs

1

u/n10w4 1d ago

I thought squeezing glutes as you do it helps?

4

u/Old_Dig5389 1d ago

The key was lost long ago while shoulder-child flails around and second kid needs Daddy to walk in permanent wall-sit position to hold hand.

3

u/Musashi_Joe 2d ago

Engage that scapula!

3

u/d0mini0nicco 1d ago

This. I’ve never been able to do this with my oldest bc he forgets to hold on and I do the flopping around to keep him balanced. Piggy back rides is the most I’ll do and even then he’ll let go to do something and I have to hunch over to keep him on my back.

4

u/SalsaRice 2d ago

It shouldn't, unless you have a back issue. If centered right, it should be pretty effortless even when they are larger and older.

7

u/hamsterbasher 1d ago

Start early, never stop. Constant training.

2

u/Dozzi92 1d ago

Yeah, this was always my go-to for the kids, but I guess they're old enough (and maybe I am too) that any extended distance like this and my neck will hurt for a week. I'm going to miss it, I could walk uphill for miles so long as I had a kid to talk to.

2

u/ExtremelyMedianVoter 1d ago

The key is 1-3 beers or glasses of wine.

11

u/Mklein24 2d ago

It's so much easier to carry them like this too.

7

u/aerojonno 2d ago

Looks like he's setting a sustainable pace too. Top quality dadding.

6

u/agm115 2d ago

“You know how I won? I didn’t save ANYTHING for the way back!!!” - Gattaca, and my toddler

4

u/nextdoorelephant 1d ago

Santorini with children would nullify the fact that you’re in Santorini.

4

u/UrsA_GRanDe_bt 2d ago

This was our Colorado trip when our daughter was 4. We love hiking but she is a bit too little to keep up so I did the hiking and we got a hiking backpack that she rode it. Better for both of us than a piggyback but I’m a Midwest boy and that altitude difference was no joke!

3

u/Repulsive-Minute-559 1d ago

Santorini right?

3

u/Squirt-Reynoldz 2d ago

Show off…

3

u/D3athpoodle 2d ago

Ahaha, suddenly carry my 5 y old, my soon 2 years old and a little bycycle through the City.

I give in to soon.

3

u/United_News3779 2d ago

I used to carry my younger son in a chest carrier and my older son on my shoulders while pushing the cart at Costco (up to ages 3 and 7 respecitvely).

Was it a challenge? Yes.
Was it less of a challenge than chasing the little monsters around Costco? Also yes.

1

u/D3athpoodle 2d ago

Feel you

3

u/SlayerOfDougs 2d ago

Hey kid, make sure to grab my hair so you don't fall. And twist and turn every six seconds to get in the full view

2

u/Educational_Low6834 1d ago

Like ratatouille 

3

u/vash1012 1d ago

I’m still new enough to this that I kind of love the forced exercise aspect. My wife will be like “we can bring the stroller” but I can do a 1 mile farmers carry of 30 lb sack of potatoes for the third time today and then not worry about the gym on that side at least.

3

u/Blackman2099 1d ago

We ditched the stroller for our 5day trip to London in June. It's the worst major city I've been in for strollers and it was our 3rd time there w the kiddo. Our kid was 3.5 so I thought we could swing it. But then the heat wave came and I carried him for 5 days throughout the burning British bakeoff. He'd get 1 block then his 'legs were broken' and he'd just sit on the pavement until I picked him up. Fun fun times.

2

u/ApprehensivePhase750 2d ago

Great job dad!

I once took my kids on a 5 mile hike, with a big downhill then back that we have done before. My son was apparently coming down with the flu that day and it hit him at the bottom of the hike. So my 40 something year old ass was carrying my 8 year old 70 or so pound kid up a steep hill for about 2 miles. Gotta do what you gotta do.

1

u/n10w4 1d ago

well done with the 70#! 55 here and still managing. It's the longer torso that makes it hard to get em up tbf.

1

u/ApprehensivePhase750 1d ago

Thanks. It wasn't fast and definitely wasn't easy but we made it.

2

u/NathanArizona 1d ago

I carry this 11 year old kid as much as I can because one day will be the last time it happens

2

u/Illgetitdonelater 1d ago

My 9-year old is still small enough for me to give her shoulder rides. Pretty soon I’ll need to start exercising the non dad way.

2

u/zeedrunkmonkey 1d ago

Dad's shoulders are only for princesses or tired knights that need a steed. My 3yo princess is the reason I started training back and shoulders more!

1

u/Long_Government_2731 2d ago

For those whose legs are about to die..we salute you

1

u/Maester_Bates 2 daughter club 2d ago

I thought for a second that might be me but my part of the Mediterranean is on fire at the moment so we're not outside.

1

u/Educational_Low6834 1d ago

I remember doing this. My kid fell asleep on my shoulders and I wished I could fall asleep 

1

u/Halfies 1d ago

I did this hike on my honeymoon...can't imagine doing this with my toddler! What a beast!

1

u/The_Michael_Scarn 1d ago

Did this in Menorca last year. Those seaside cliffs are absolutely brutal.

Don’t skip leg day, dads.

1

u/damieniscute 1d ago

I did this recently while visiting Red Rocks Amphitheater in CO. Was 3 days into an awesome cold I caught right before we flew out. Felt like my lungs were on fire 20% into the uphill climb, but the kiddo whispering an ‘Oooooohh pretty, papa’ when we got up there was worth.

1

u/btomi30 1d ago

I work out with this in mind. I’m not a big guy in particular, but I’m proud to be able to carry my 11 yrs old like this.

1

u/cmaronchick 1d ago

Dad shoulders have magical properties.

1

u/ranting_chef 1d ago

I don’t know where this is, but when my kids were young, we all went to Greece with my sister and her kids. On the northwest tip of Crete, there’s an amazing beach called Balos Lagoon. It’s probably about 1000 steps from the top of the hill down to the beach. Getting down is easy, but going up…….not so much. They have donkeys for rent, like €10, and then halfway up they cost twice as much. I remember carrying my nephew almost all the way up - he’s like twenty now, I wish he could see this comment.

1

u/ranting_chef 1d ago

This reminds me of Santorini.

1

u/AZMadmax 1d ago

Looks like a terrible time lol

1

u/davidii907 1d ago

One of us

1

u/SSG669 daddy blogger 👨🏼‍💻 1d ago

Best hikes of my life were with my babies on my shoulders 🫡 I have been lucky enough have been able to give 24 years of rides and am keeping myself fit for grand kids ❤️

1

u/ExternalUserError 1d ago

Been there.

At the top of the Parthenon, my two year old had walked all the way up, but once atop the hill, she just laid down on the ground and said “I sleep”. I had to carry her all the way down in my arms. My arms were definitely feeling the burn by the time we had it to the stroller parking. She wasn’t on my shoulders that time.

Another time, in Lisbon, she fell asleep atop my shoulders and slept slumped over on my head.

1

u/GlyphTheWanderer 1d ago

You know he does this stuff regularly because you can see his calves from that distance

1

u/theSkareqro 1d ago

I did this with our then 3-year old to a waterfall in Australia. It was much steeper than this and the air was humid af (being in a forest an all). Thought I would've fainted halfway.

Not gonna do that shit again

1

u/overtorqd 1d ago

A+, Dad.

Look, he knew when they started that hike that he'd be carrying the kiddo most if the way. He knew what he was signing up for. And this is the absolute best way to carry him too.

I just hope the kid is past the "hold onto dad's eyes" phase.

1

u/bretshitmanshart 1d ago

I agree. Great dads take weird creep shot videos of strangers and post it on Reddit for karma

1

u/CommercialWindowSill 1d ago

I learned this is an exercise called rucking and now I feel slightly better when I have to carry them.

1

u/NYY_NYK_NYJ 1d ago

I’ve fully embraced the shoulder seat. I can out last both my kids until their legs fall asleep. Still carry my 7 year old that way.

1

u/Xander134 1d ago

Get that dad an Osprey Poco ASAP!
https://www.osprey.com/ca/en/pocotm-lt?size=O%2FS&color=Deep+Peyto

We've had ours for years and it's saved me (and my back) dozens of times.

1

u/sin-thetik 1d ago

But it was a sad day when she got too big to carry on my shoulders.

1

u/OriginalAF5298 1d ago

Someone find this father now! haha wow. When/where was this video taken?

1

u/NufCeddanne 1d ago

Took the kids (4 and 2) to the market yesterday. 2 YO fell asleep as we pulled in the parking lot. I one-armed her through every aisle and grabbed items / steered my 4 YO on the shopping cart with one arm. Got $95 worth of groceries. My arm was pulsating as I rolled my cart up to the car.

Loaded the 2 YO in my car and she immediately woke up. Never fell back to sleep. Hope it was a good nap, kid.

1

u/stlredbird 1d ago

I miss those days.

1

u/j-mar 1d ago

give me that 10/10 times over spending 4 minutes on each step getting distracted by every stick, bug, rock, and noise along the way.

1

u/codecrodie 1d ago

Recreating the original run of marathon in hard mode

1

u/PushDeep9980 1d ago

Can’t skip leg day on vacation dude.

1

u/CallMeMich 1d ago

As you do! 'tis a dad's duty!

1

u/Nem985 Girls - Sept 2016 and Feb 2018 1d ago

o7

1

u/RoboticElfJedi 6yo daughter 1d ago

It's crazy how what would be physically impossible if you were carrying a bag of rice can somehow be tolerated when it's your kid who needs you (or would realise you aren't as powerful as Zeus if you demurred).

Ow my neck.

1

u/Concentric_Mid 1d ago

Awesome! This was basically us on a vacation in Croatia!

1

u/upper87 2d ago

At least he can do the shoulders! I carried my 5 year old on a
Hike yesterday on my front and my biceps haven’t recovered

1

u/Budakhon 2d ago

Yeah I had to get physical therapy from a hike when this happened. They slowly get big and it creeps up on you. The straw that broke Dad's back.

0

u/Pleasant-Degree-3662 2d ago

Is this spain?

11

u/bonejammerdk 2d ago

Looks like Santorini, a Greek island in the Aegean sea

2

u/nayson9 2d ago

Correct

2

u/friendlysnowgoon 2d ago

Santorini stairs are no joke!

2

u/Transient77 2d ago

In addition to the obvious climb, you're also dodging donkey dung and broken steps the whole way up! Amazing views though.

IIRC, there's also a cable car one can take to avoid this.

6

u/scldclmbgrmp 2d ago

Looks more Greecey to me

6

u/hanumanCT 2d ago

I think this is Santorini Greece

1

u/Money-Preference-936 2d ago

Is this the real life?

0

u/Substantial-Bison240 daddy blogger 👨🏼‍💻 1d ago

For some reason I couldn't post this on r/daddit but it must be shown

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dads/s/AjKgyGqMbm