There’s nothing quite like a dad joke. Sure, they may be groan-inducing, but it creates a special kind of bonding opportunity. The Good Dads blog featured a story on the power of dad jokes, a great read for anyone who needs some silly puns and one-liners in their lives.

Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with my father while he was over-the-road. One of the first things I asked him was what his favorite dad joke was. Here is his response:

Why do elephants paint their toenails red?

So they can hide in cherry trees!

What, you’ve never seen an elephant in a cherry tree?

Well, that’s because they’re really good hiders!

Dads often simultaneously play the roles of disciplinarian and “Mr. Fun Bun,” as my parents would lovingly refer to my dad while my siblings and I were growing up. But how can you find balance between being a fun dad and a serious dad? How can we use humor and playfulness to bond with others? Is laughter really the best medicine?

Don’t miss out on a conversation with my very own over-the-road dad, Jason Gilreath, on our next value starting with the letter P in the P.R.I.M.E.D. series: playfulness!

Your role as an over-the-road father requires balance.

Every family is unique. When my dad was little, his own father was the breadwinner while his mother was the homemaker. He said his mother would use his father as “leverage,” meaning, “do what I say, or I’m telling your dad!”

Dads are sometimes seen in a child’s eyes as scary, disciplinary figures. While it’s important that you have well-behaved children, my dad knows there’s a balance you must find between being a serious and a fun dad.

“I would try to be fun, because I didn’t want to always come across as this fearful person you’re going to be afraid of,” he said.

Being a good dad is a balancing act! It involves following through on completing chores and discipline, even if it means an unhappy kiddo. It also involves building trust; being that fun-father figure who kids feel they can talk to, but also the person who brings out the best in your kids.

Set aside time for fun bonding opportunities when you’re home from working over-the-road.

As an over-the-road trucker, my dad worked all the time. When he was finally home, we’d have a family night together. This would involve playing board games like Sorry! or Clue or watching a movie. The movie nights would turn into what my dad would coin “pallet nights,” where we’d set up blankets and sleeping bags in the living room to camp out in front of the TV to watch movies and eat popcorn together.

“Because I worked so much, I enjoyed the times that we got to spend together,” Dad told me. “Whether we played hide and seek or board games, we were participating together.”

My dad said that during these times, it was great to focus on the little, laughable moments.

For over-the-road fathers of adult children: share stories and memories with your family.

There’s truth to the phrase “youth is wasted on the young.” Dad admitted he feels bad that, since it’s been years since our family trips, his kids likely only remember bits and pieces. It’s important to remember that just because your children aren’t going to remember every single detail doesn’t make the memories less special.

He described the trips the family would take to museums, the zoo, amusement parks and more.

“We were smiling, laughing and having a great time,” he said. “Everything was alright with the world.”

Sharing memories through pictures, stories or souvenirs is fun for everyone to hear. As a family, you’ll continue to make new memories and bring back old ones. They’re great opportunities to bond as time marches on.

“You have the good memories that you want to hang on to,” Dad said. “Sometimes they can be suppressed with life. When your kids are able to ask you questions, to me, it helps to bring those memories back up, and they’re fun to talk about.”

Final Words

My father is a man of faith. He referenced a verse in the Bible about playfulness.

Proverbs 17:22 – A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

There really is power in using humor and playfulness to bond with others!

“When I’m laughing, I think about that term (laughter is the best medicine), that I’m taking medicine or a vitamin,” he said. “What you put into your body is what you’re going to get out.”