About Us

I didn't start this because I had fatherhood figured out. I started it because I needed it.

Some dads carry burdens I can't imagine. My own "hard things" might look small by comparison, but they still stretch me. This brand is a small way of reminding myself - and any dad who needs it - that showing up matters. Just like God does for us again and again.

Every purchase helps keep this community going and creates space for honest conversations about faith and fatherhood. Thanks for checking us out!

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I was driving back to Indiana after visiting my Dad in Ohio for Father’s Day and had some quiet thinking time on I-70 (minus the potholes). These days that’s rare. My amazing wife and I have been blessed with 2 young boys, and the noise that surrounds the daily chaos between getting them dressed in the morning, daycare drop-off, work, daycare pickup, negotiating to eat vegetables at dinner, bath time, and bed time…doesn’t allow for much quiet reflection. So I took full advantage on this drive to think through some life “stuff” - goals, blessings, frustrations, worries, sports, travel, business ideas … you name it. But since it was Father’s Day, I kept gravitating back to thinking about my relationships with my Dad and my Stepdad; and now my relationships with my own boys.

Becoming a dad put a lot in perspective for me: with kids, the highs can be extra high, but the lows can come with extra frustration and worry. Some goals and interests become much less important, and many days you feel out of control. Little tasks can sometimes feel like climbing mountains, and patience can start to run thin much quicker than you’d ever intend. When you get those rewarding little moments with your kids - laughs, smiles, unlocking new skills, overcoming fears, seeing them help or comfort others - it’s all worth it and your tank gets refilled. Often times though, when you’re In the middle of a bedtime negotiation after a long day at work and you’re not as patient as you’d like to be, fatherhood just feels HARD.

Don’t get me wrong, Moms have it the hardest and do the hardest things!

However, there are days where I struggle as a dad and start to question if I’m good enough and can handle the “hard things” - some dads’ hard things truly can be unfathomable hardships, and I pray they have the strength they need. Many times though, those hard things can just be part of the day-to-day grind of being a dad.

Am I saying the right things? Am I being supportive enough? Am I challenging my boys enough and teaching them to overcome adversity? Am I too short tempered? Am I too nice? Am I shaping them into strong but empathetic young men? Am I setting a good example in how I demonstrate my love for their mom? Am I spending enough time with them? Am I showing them how to chase after their dreams and goals?

Asking myself these questions (for the hundredth time this year) driving down the highway, God kept reminding me that he demonstrates what it means to be a good father - he’s patient, sacrificial, loving, stern when needed - all the things. I’ve read it; I know the songs; I’ve heard it preached many times; yet I still needed another reminder (just like my 4 year old needs reminded that popsicles are not breakfast food). God did (and does) hard things for us every day because of his love for all of us. He also knows we’re not perfect, but if we keep showing up and ask for his help, we too can do the hard things.

As I got closer to home, I started thinking that maybe a few more dads out there could use that reminder. I decided to take a shot at starting a brand to serve as that reminder: DDHT (Dads Do Hard Things). I know the odds and realize it may never grow to be a huge brand, but that’s okay. At a minimum, I’ll have some hats, t-shirts, and what I think is a cool logo to provide that daily reminder.

If you read this far, thank you, and I hope you’ll consider joining what I hope will become an empowering brand, movement, and community for Dads.

- Nathan

(+ an incredibly supportive wife)