Man whose dad abandoned him at 14 makes videos explaining how to do basic things

A man is trying to help others learn basic life skills after his dad abandoned him when he was a teenager.

While it's not a father's job to explain how to change a tyre, shave your face or tie a tie, these jobs usually sit with the male figure in the household.

However, Rob Kenney didn't have a dad from 14 after he reportedly walked out and never came home.

This meant he had to move into his older brother's home when he was a teen and waded his way through adolescence without much parental guidance, according to the Daily Mail.

He grew up without the support of the internet and he's launched a YouTube channel dedicated to teaching people all the small things in life.

YouTube/Dad, How Do I?

It ranges from how to unclog a bathroom drain, how to hang a shelf, how to wear a suit, and even some easy food recipes.

The channel is called Dad, How Do I? and it has more than 4.7 million subscribers.

He explains each task in a calm voice and minimal steps to ensure the lesson goes down smoothly with viewers all over the world.

Rob has two children of his own who are now adults and he realised that he could impart his wisdom and knowledge to everyone who might not have a teacher.

He set out with a mission of providing 'useful, practical content to many basic tasks that everyone should know how to do'.

Kenney thought about launching the channel for ages but when the coronavirus pandemic hit, he knew it was the perfect time to launch the channel.

People regularly flock to his videos to express how much they mean to them.

YouTube/Dad, How Do I?

One said: "I grew up without having a dad… So when I read there’s a YouTube channel called Dad How Do I? That teaches stuff that dads would I had to check it out immediately…. I’ve grown to see you as my dad you’ve taught me so many things that mine was never there to teach me… thank you."

Another added: "I just found out about your channel 10 minutes from this post from a different YouTube channel. I cried at the start of the video just hearing that first sentence. For the first time in 31 years I felt like I had a father who cared. So thank you."

A third wrote: "I just wanted to say thank you for all the videos. I lost my dad in 2021. I use to always ask him for help when I didn't know how to do something. I know its easy to look stuff up on the internet and get tutorials, but hearing it from you really makes it more helpful and it reminds me off all the good times I spent with my dad."

Not all heroes wear capes.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Senior Journalist at LADbible. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign. He is in charge of the LADbible Australia editorial content and social presence.

@stewartperrie