Grizzly Teddy Bears
If I didn’t know better, I would be pretty intimidated by my dad. An avid Harley Davidson man who always has a knife in his pocket, he exudes the vibe of a hardened blue collar dude with a permanent scowl etched onto his sun-weathered face. In spite of his imposing image, he’s actually the jolliest, sweetest, most generous person I know; not only to me—his daughter—but to everyone around him. Self-aware of his jelly-filled soul, my dad proudly says that his focus shifted once he became a dad. As the strong grip of a baby hand wrapped around his finger, his paternal instincts kicked in and his hardened exterior turned to mush.
And he’s not alone. “Becoming a dad alters a man's brain,” writes community healthcare provider, Gadsden Regional Medical Center. “Several studies have found that testosterone decreases significantly once a man becomes a father [and] lower testosterone levels also make it more likely for a man's body to release ‘feel good’ hormones like oxytocin and dopamine.” With the happy hormones flowing and a cuddly baby in your arms, it’s only natural that men are able to attune to their little tykes, and as their bond grows stronger, a dad’s gentle spirit flourishes.
Naturally, for women, this transformation is less of a surprise, and most first-time mothers effortlessly slip into their new role as a mom. Like a werewoman witnessing the full moon for the first time, their maternal instincts take over and transform into kindhearted, infinitely patient beings. For the sake of their kiddos, many modern parents inadvertently become the best versions of themselves; lucky for today’s children, they have both parents undergoing a glow-up.
Because a man’s heart grows more compassionate as he spends more time with his children, it comes as no surprise that the role of fathers has changed drastically over the years. Our parents’ parents were stern, strict, and sometimes cruel towards their offspring, but now, as fathers are becoming more involved in their children’s lives, their demeanor is evolving.
Via u/CutePetHut
According to Jutta Joormann, Ph.D, a family psychologist from Psychology Today, says, “The biological effects of fatherhood heavily depend on the extent that fathers are involved in caregiving, which has notably changed over the last several decades.” According to a study conducted in 1975, fathers typically spent 12 to 25 minutes per day on childcare. Whereas, in 2010, when the study was conducted again, researchers found that dads spent over an hour per day caring for their children. Dr. Joormann says, based on this data, contemporary fathers are nearly six times more involved in child care than the previous generation.
The media no longer inundates us with father figures pictured as the “stern-but-fair” type, and gentler versions of dads have become more prominent and more appreciated. Dad-core trends are heading down a wholesome path, highlighting the kindhearted, gentle, and sweet dadisms that tug on our heartstrings and make us nostalgic over our own memories with dear ol’ Dad. Fathers are no longer held to the militant standard of emotionless strength, so without feeling beholden to the parenting standards of the past, dads are free to be the goofy teddy bears we’ve come to know and love. After they score a great deal on bulk work socks at Costco, cuddle the dog they allegedly never wanted, and mow a perfectly manicured lawn, nothing makes a dad happier than a 90-degree nap in a seated position.
Now that’s true Dadcore. And we love that about them.
Via u/raddad and u/beeta.enfaradi
The Duality of Dad
Dormant like a sleeping, snoring, stone giant, a dad’s toughness never truly goes away. Parenthood may soften a dad’s heart and soul when their newborn baby arrives, but ultimately, when men become fathers, their focus simply shifts towards a new goal in life: Protect this tiny human at all costs. They may roughhouse with their kids and play rousing games, towing inflatable kid-catapults behind rented speedboats in the summertime and spinning the tire swing a little too fast, but good dads will always cater to their kid’s best interest. Unlike the belt-wielding, stern-faced dads of the past, dads nowadays have their child’s wellbeing in mind because they’ve evolved into a new kind of dad.
As society drifts away from traditional parenting models, the role of a father has bloomed beyond recognition (in the best way). Militant parenting styles are no longer the familial standard and within the framework of continual love and support, men have risen to the challenge of fatherhood in a remarkable way. They’re the family guardian, an ancient, powerful creature tamed by the laughter of children, mercilessly punny dad jokes, and wholesome retirement hobbies like birding or whittling.
Via u/kindnestquest
Modern dads may claim to be disciplinarians, shaking every new boyfriend’s hand with a vice-like grip and asking probing questions about our intention with our future career. However, deep down, it’s clear that they’re our stoic, sleepy protector, bragging about waking up early just moments before dozing on the couch in front of a Hallmark movie.