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AUSTRALIA — Dads are a special breed.
Of course, we are all very aware of dad jokes and prankster dads. Those dads are almost as prevalent as cats on the internet. But then there are "committed dads."
Committed dads doesn't refer to the average family man type of commitment. It refers to the dad that sees their kid has gone all in on something, so they go all in too. They become just as passionate and knowledgeable about their kid's choice of interest. They're the dads that learn all the names of Pokémon, run sports drills in the driveway, and wear princess gear to the princess party.
Then there's Australian father, Ash Mills. Ash's daughter, Alex, found a passion for gymnastics at a young age. Early on, Ash decided to copy his daughter's efforts and grow his skills as she grew hers. Let's face it, this a lofty goal for an aging human, because no matter how in shape you are, bodies get creaky as they age.
Soon, he was out of his depth, but he keeps going 10 years in. His committed, goofy, and impressive efforts are why 316,000 follow the duo on Instagram.
This video, which was posted recently on the official Olympics YouTube account, shows a compilation of some of Ash's efforts. First, his daughter shows the trick, then it shows the many attempts Ash makes to perform an approximation of the same trick. (Dads, please don't try this at home.)
His awkwardness and commitment are delightful. But wait, there's more delightfulness! What the montage doesn't capture is Ash's high giggle when he "lands" a trick, which can be heard at the end of this clip. There's nothing quite as heartwarming and charming as a man who giggles.
Again, dads, please don't try gymnastics at home, but please feel free to giggle all you want.
