Robert Kenney of Washington state never set out to have a large family – but he has one now! Well, sort of.
Kenney was never close to his own Dad, even before he left the family when Rob was only 14 y/o. He shares that without a Dad, the father-figure he came to rely on was his older brother, Rick. So when Kenney married and started his own family, he decided to try to be the best Dad he could.
Rob with his wife, Annelli – Married 30 years
When he started getting a lot of “adulting” questions from daughter, Kristine, about how to solve practical issues around the house, he came up with an idea. He asked Kristine what she thought about creating some videos for her, son Kyle, and hopefully his grandkids about gaining a few life skills.
Rob with newborn daughter, Kristine
Kristine’s response: “Dad – that would be brilliant!” Thus was born, “Dad, How Do I …?”.
It began with modest issues Rob was familiar with – how to tie a tie (his first video), how to jump start a car, how to fix a squeaky door. He put the videos on YouTube believing this would be a permanent library for his kids and grandkids, and maybe a few of their friends.
But he had no idea they would become so popular.
In trying to explain his overwhelming success, Rob admits he is not reinventing the wheel: “There are 500 other channels that will tell you how to tie a tie.” But he believes what has led to his gaining 2.3 MILLION subscribers is kindness. He feels he talks to the camera like he would to his own children. Besides, the internet, “doesn’t have an algorithm for kindness.”
He sprinkles his folksy “How To” videos with lots of corny Dad jokes (“I was going to go on an all almond diet. But then I thought, that’s just nuts!”) and common sense with a huge helping of compassion and caring. From the comments he gets on the YouTube videos, he believes that lots of younger folks are missing having connections with their parents – and he hopes he’s helping fill that void.
To enjoy a sampling, just head to his YouTube library of “Dad, How Do I?” and settle back for some fatherly know-how along with some good advice.
Practical “Dadvice” for Everyday Tasks
But be sure to watch his most popular video – “I Am Proud of You” – that didn’t teach a thing … other than how to be a mensch.
“I get emotional…. I put out a video, and I basically just said, ‘I’m proud of you, I love you, God Bless you,’ and some comments said they’ve never been told that someone is proud of them,” recalled Kenney.
Oh, to put your minds at ease … he did reconcile with his own Father shortly before he passed. So it looks like the Circle of Life was completed. So here’s the happy Kenney family:
SOURCES:
