Camper Boy in Alaska Couldn’t Set a Tent Up. His Father Came to the Rescue and Won TikTok Over: ‘I’d Rather Be Cold and Miserable With You’

Allowing their child to explore, try, and fail is one of the most challenging experiences a parent can face. But with a bit of guidance, every bird leaves the nest eventually. Tom, who was independently camping in the wilderness of Alaska, reached a hitch when he tried and failed to set his tent up. Realizing he couldn’t do it, he finally asked his father, Luke, to help him out—his father’s response won the hearts of social media users.

Tom (Outdoor Tom) is known for his camping and fishing adventures on YouTube and TikTok. He’s significantly younger than most adventurers, which piques the interest of many social media users. Not everyone knows how to camp, and so many 20-year-olds might not even know how to light a fire in case of an emergency. But Tom is attuned to the outdoors, as his family also loves camping.

For his first solo camping trip in Alaska, Tom started chopping down wood to set a tent up. He was prepared for winter, as there’s a possibility for temperatures to drop below zero during springtime. At first, Tom’s plan seemed like it was going accordingly. The ground was frozen, but he found a way to make the structure of the tent stand.

But then, it started raining unexpectedly. He hadn’t anticipated the possibility, and Tom began to feel cold. Realizing that he was struggling to build the bed on his makeshift tent, Tom finally radioed his dad for help. Luke had been camping away from Tommy at a distance and was able to reach his son immediately.

Camping video becomes a parenting video

Most parents who’d find their son shivering in the Alaskan cold would usually take over and start doing everything for them. Instead, Luke asked his son, “Where are you at here?”

The question suggested that he still cared for his son’s input. He wanted to know what kind of help he needs. He didn’t assume that he needed to take over the process just because Tom said he felt “miserable” because of the rain.

Tom said he needed help cutting logs because he was still building his bed. While Luke was helping Tom out, he also gave tips and instructions for creating a log bed. Tom was able to finish his build and set a fire because of his dad’s help.

Despite Tom’s initial success, rain started pooling on the makeshift bed. Luke stepped in and explained why the tent’s structure should be changed, as it would let rain accumulate and fall on Tom. Because of this, Luke helped improve the tent setup, placing extra support so that the water wouldn’t dump on Tom.

At this point, Luke could have told Tom he’s done a great job and told him to pack up because of the terrible weather. Instead, Luke asked his son if he’d like him to continue his video without him or if Tom wants to cook with him. Tom chose the latter instantaneously.

“It’s nice having you,” Luke told Tom.

“I’d rather be cold and miserable with you than cold and miserable by myself,” Tom replied. The father-and-son duo ended up having their quesadilla and hotdogs under their makeshift tent.

Best dad on TikTok

TikTok users who were watching the interaction unfold were touched and tearing up—especially after Tom told his dad, “I love you.” A commenter said, “His father won.” If a child is comfortable enough to rely on their parent, it shows that there’s great trust between them.

Someone wrote, “Take notes, fellas. This is fatherhood, teaching our young ones to be self-sufficient but with the love and kindness alot of us didn’t receive from our fathers.”

Another TikTok user could only watch in grief. They commented, “Makes me realize all I’ve missed out on not having a dad.” It’s an unspoken privilege to have good parents who would guide their children through life. As other commenters noted, Tom is lucky to have a supportive parent on his journey.

Everyone else could only hope for the same. At the very least, Tom and Luke’s interactions taught social media an important parenting tip: children should be guided when they ask for help. Be there when they need support, but don’t coddle. Respect their boundaries as humans, but provide help in areas where they struggle. Every bird will fly out of the nest eventually, but until then, it’s every parent’s job to teach their kids how to fly.

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