From time to time – on blogs, talk shows, and in real life – I have heard women say that they think Dads are hot. As a Dad myself, I must say I find this both amusing and highly dubious. In order to get to the bottom of this “hot dad” phenomenon, I decided to write a post examining just what makes us Dads so darn hot.
Proceed with caution, ladies! Hot Dad talk lies ahead!
So what is it that makes us Dads hot? Could it be:
The fifteen sympathy pounds we gained with each of our wife’s pregnancies?
The fact that we now go to Gymboree more often than the gym?
That our once encyclopedic knowledge of worldwide cinema and music history has been replaced by Pixar movies and Yo Gabba Gabba songs?
Our loss of dignity?
I am wearing a baby saddle. In. Public.
And respect?
I don’t even know who these kids are.
Our wardrobe of clothes that is forever locked back in the year we first became a Dad?
The faded spit-up and baby poop stains on our before-mentioned out of date clothing?
Our receding hairline? (This one effects all men… it just seems to happen a HECKUVA lot faster once you become a Dad)
How we are obsessed with making sure that lights aren’t left on in rooms we’re not in?
And our tendency to say things like, “Money doesn’t grow on trees, you know!”
How we now fall asleep well before ten at night on the couch?
And in public places?
Quite often?
Yikes!
After reading this post I’m sure no women will ever think Dads are hot ever, ever again.
Lucky for me Heather still has a warm spot in her heart for this here Dad!
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
You’d better watch out for those “warm spots” or you’ll be even more sleep deprived and stained. LOL!
Ms. A´s last [type] ..Easter Oops
It’s quite straight forward Mike, you’ve already shown you are fertile, willing to reproduce and willing to do your share of the baby minding. It really is as simple as that. Those might not be the conscious thoughts, a woman may well just go “ohh, so cute” but that’s what is behind it.
Penbleth´s last [type] ..My daughter doesn’t have Idiocy
Personally, Id hate to be around an overgroomed, impossibly-cool man when everything I own is covered in vomit and I havent had time for a haircut in almost a year.
Women, and mothers especially love good fathers. Ones willing to be the one to get involved in play time while we have a coffee, ones who say ‘ill change that next diaper’. Music to our ears.
Heather is very lucky.
(and vise versa – wouldnt kick her out of bed)
Hm, let’s see: honest, sweet, sense of humour, supportive, shares parenting responsibilities, and lets his little girl walk all over him. That right there? Hot! (here’s hoping my being married, in another country and a bajillion years older means Heather won’t kick my a$$ for that)
Neeroc´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday – Easter edition
I loved this post!
My fiancee is heavily involved in our girls’ lives. He takes them to ballet, swimming, science class (they’re homeschooled) and theatre. Well, sometimes he does that… maybe 20% of the time?
In any case, he gets fawned over like he’s Father Teresa saving the sick and dying when he does… I just don’t get it.
I watch the drop off dads at the school where I drop daycare kids and same thing there. The moms flirt, smile and it’s bizarre.
No one flirts with moms that are covered in baby spit, haven’t shower in 3 days and cart about 30 extra lbs of baby weight.
Heather´s last [type] ..From the desk of 7 year old Miss D
Mike-you are so funny! I love your posts. Heather is so lucky!
It’s been alluded to above, but I think it bears repeating. It’s related to the situation involving a man who cleans a bathroom and receives a standing ovation. A woman who does the same thing doesn’t even get noticed.
I still think you’re a keeper Mike!
I couldn’t think Hubs is any hotter than when I see him playing with our little man, bathing him, reading books to him, playing ball with him, helping me clean house…yes he does this, he even does laundry!! It is very hot when men take their kids to do things…it shows your sensitive side!
Holy crap, a dad that loves his children is hot. When you can see that soft spot in a man that allows him to become a jungle gym for crazy babies or sit in a rocker in the wee hours of the morning cuddling a sick baby. As a woman, and as a mom, it shows the soul of a man. And there is truly nothing hotter.
Brandy´s last [type] ..Feeling Pointless
Dads are sexy because of the responsibility they take on, at least that’s what makes them “hot” to me.
I don’t get it either.
I totally don’t find dads hot at all. Not. At. All. Not even a little bit.
To me, nothing says “this guy is taken” like a man with a baby/child. I don’t find “taken” men attractive, and to me, a dad is the epitome of “unavailable.”
As you can probably guess, I don’t find gay or married men attractive either.
I also find fathers unattractive because parents are rarely in a position of complete control. I’m not only talking about the dads who are totally owned by their kids; even a good dad with a crying child is a total turn-off to me. I think it’s because the man is not in a position of control. I’m attracted to powerful men, men who are in complete and utter control.
Yeah. I totally don’t get the daddy attraction thing. I’d pick a childless man any day.
The way that you love your three ladies makes you a hot dad!!
I think I just might have a crush on all of you. And all of those things make you (and your whole family) hawt!
Rebecca´s last [type] ..That Gawd Awful Smell
I would have to agree with the comments above that when my Husband makes the effort to help out with the Kids and Chores… I find him way more attractive, and appealing. When I’m doing everything and watching him sit on the couch and act like I’m doing nothing…. I do NOT find him attractive. With that said, I’ve never been the kind of girl to be out and about and see a man with a baby and think “Now he’s hot”, but I do take the time to peak at the babe, from a non creepy distance. I do think that there is a sence of Sexy to a dad that dotes, but mostly I just love and admire my Husband when he puts forth the effort, without having to make me beg, whine, or demand
My girlfriend and I bike around a lake near our work at lunch and often see hot dads exercising while pushing a stroller. Her comment is ALWAYS “I never used to think that’s hot, but now – SO HOT!” Any dad that’s willing to figure out how to work their kid in to their routine so that mom gets a break is SMOKIN’!
I personally think that a dad is hot when he’s obviously *involved* with his children
My husband is very sweet and doting with our daughter, and I love that. He spends a ton of time with her, without complaining that his life has changed. We have a friend that is the same way with his little girl, and I just want to give him a hug because I think it is so, so sweet. Another guy friend seems to think his kids are a chore…he is one of those not-hot dads, even though he’s a good looking guy. My husband may have gained weight, isn’t chiseled and perfect, and passes out way too early in the evening, but he loves on our little girl and that is enough for me 
forget candles and back rubs. forget diamonds and chocolate hearts and flowers.
the words “honey i’ll watch the kids” is the only foreplay required.
Love the picture of Annie walking all over you!hahaha
Love the picture of you and Heather! one HOT couple!
Fabulous post Mike. The reason women find these kind of Dads hot is that they want the same qualities in the person they partner with .
Kristin´s last [type] ..W is for
Dads that are actually involved with their kids are very hot. Heck, guys that simply like kids and will get down on the floor and play with them (like the picture of you with the kids climbing on you) are.
My dad wasn’t very involved in my life. He probably would be more involved now but I have my hesitations in opening up to him since he was never there any other time. I don’t want that for my future children. I want them to have a dad that play tag with them in the backyard, who attends games and plays, who gets upset when they start dating, etc.
If a guy is caring, supportive, intelligent, understanding, I could go on and on… then, yeah, he’s very attractive.
I think it’s a genetics thing. Like the whole reason that men love big boobs is because subconsciously their genes believe that someone with big boobs is a good milk producer. Men who have children are ones who are fertile and have already proven themselves!
And it’s nice to see a soft side too
Randi´s last [type] ..Babygirl Turns Seven!!
We moms are suffering from all kinds of similar stuff so it is only natural that we find dads hot, since we are hoping they still find us hot too!
Lisa´s last [type] ..5 Days of Easter
Um, FYI.
Ya’ll are just an all around hot couple. Mike is handsome as heck and Heather is beautiful.
And don’t get me started on the beautiful girls you have together!
It’s because we women see a strong/committed partner in men who become dads. And most women want strong/committed partners.
Hmm… can’t think of anything to add to that list, Mike.
And, if its of any consequence, I find you a totally hot Dad! *lol*
Dudge OH´s last [type] ..A Right Royal Knees Up!
I’m gonna have to agree with you on this one. I do hear this a lot but haven’t quite figured that one out. I think it’s the idea that what was once a behemoth idiotic baboon is now capable of actually caring for a little being. It’s like we’ve gone from caveman to part human/part the pigs we’ve always been. Kind of like, “Awww, how cute! Look at the caveman feed his human baby!?”
For me, it’s when a gigantic person capable of seriously injuring anything smaller than a tenth-grader without so much as breaking a sweat sits down on the floor and lets a herd of tiny hobbits swarm all over him. My husband is 6’4″, kind of scary looking, but he is just this swampy puddle of goo when it comes to our daughters. There is something about contained power contrasted with such sweet tenderness that makes my knees weak. My husband doesn’t have a full head of hair anymore (and oh, he had AMAZING hair when we first met), but he’s a million times more attractive.
Wallydraigle´s last [type] ..My clever idea Clever-ish Maybe
To me women think “Dad’s are Hot” because: Real fathers are responsible, and actually spend time with/love their children. Any guy can produce a child, but it takes a “real man” to be a “Dad.”
You are a wonderful father. Heather’s lucky to have you as a father to her children. And Maddie & Annie are lucky to have you as their daddy. <3
Like some of your readers, I find it unfair that guys are often unduly praised for what women are expected to do by default (i.e., care about their children.) The “hotness” aspect is more of the same. I’ve never heard men talk about how hot it is to see women taking care of their kids.
On the other hand, as a SAHD, this undeserved attention often gets me through the day.