Appetite for distraction

If you’re in need of a bit of heartwarming or just a good cry, there’s nothing better than a deep dive into sentimental YouTube clips of grumpy dads bonding with their four-legged friends

Any YouTube video focusing on ‘dad gets a new kitten/puppy’ guarantees a sentimental tear or two

I got sucked into a YouTube hole this week. Video after video played and played and I watched and watched, alternating between crying and laughing, my big shiny face occasionally reflected back off the computer screen.

The general theme of the videos? “Dad surprised with puppy for Christmas”. “Dad lost beloved dog, so we got him a new one”. And occasionally, “Dad gets kitten surprise”. I had gone to YouTube specifically looking for ...