If you were a fan of How I Met Your Mother, it's probably hard to imagine the man who portrayed Barney Stinson as father material. But in fact, Neil Patrick Harris couldn't be further from the arrogant womanizing Playboy that we know from the television rom-com.
Harris alongside his husband, David Burtka, is a father to two adorable children, Gideon and Harper. Like their father, these two seem to gravitate towards the spotlight, so fans get a taste of mini Neil Patrick Harris adorable-ness. Harris appears to give his children only the highest level on candor and love. We can only hope that his fictional counterpart, Barney turned out to be just as a devoted and admirable dad that Harris is.
Check these ten times picture-perfect Neil Patrick Harris dad moments!
10 10. Every Halloween
An annual post that Neil Patrick Harris fans certainly look forward to each year is the family Halloween costume collaboration. In 2014, Harris, his husband, and the twins donned the garb of famous DC comic characters. Harris saddled up as The Riddler with Burtka aiding him in his villainy as the Joker, while the two kids played the part of the heroes like Batman and Batgirl. The family has been keeping up this ceremony every Halloween and moms are eating it up. Hopefully, the tradition lives on as the kids get older!
9 9. Any Holiday, Really
It doesn’t have to be Halloween in order for these two fashionistas to dress up. Something that seems prevalent in the Harris household is that every holiday and precious moment should be celebrated. Whether it’s Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day or Easter, this family can always be found representing the festivities with appropriately themed outfits. How precious!
8 8. Anniversary Appreciation
Harris and Burtka started dating on April 1, 2004. The two were able to raise their two adorable twins together with the help of a surrogate mother, and Harris is nothing but appreciative. For their anniversary post in 2017, he shared a loving candid photo of Burtka and their son with the caption “Thirteen years and one day ago, I crossed paths with the guy on the left. The adventures have never ceased. The love has never waned. The gifts are never-ending (the guy on the right, e.g.)."
The couple’s bliss seems to rub off on their children who are learning invaluable lessons about what a happy relationship looks like from their dads.
7 7. Disney Fever
Harris and his other half seem to lead lives exclusively for their kids (well, aren’t we all?) In this Instagram picture posted on NPH’s page, the family is simultaneously grinning from ear to ear.
The family spent a week-long trip at Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa in Hawai’i. Despite this luxury, it’s not the vacation that Harris is thankful for. Harris’ take away from the trip was his unyielding love for his husband and his children. Cue the waterworks.
6 6. Relating To Mom's Everywhere
When Harris became a father, he admits it was difficult. He says he has gotten little sleep since the twins have been in his life—and he couldn’t be happier about it.
Still, Harris wasn’t afraid to open up about those first few years when their babies slept little and cried a lot. He’s learned to grow alongside his children, adding that, “The older they get, the more I love being a dad.”
5 5. Sibling Appreciation
Kids have a tendency to fight with each other, especially when it comes to siblings. While some moms have it easy, there are others who are subject to be the referee between sibling rivalries. We don’t know what goes on behind closed doors, but it seems the Harris twins have as much love for each other as they do for their awesome dads.
Whether this is because Harris seems adamant to show the two the importance of their relationship or if it is a natural bond between twins, Harris celebrates it. Here is another epic dad moment as Harris indulges his two little ones on National Sibling Day by baking some sweets!
4 4. Teaching Them To Be Themselves
Audiences know that Neil Patrick Harris has a knack for flair, and it seems that he’s passed on this delightful trait to his twins. If anything, this photo of Gideon and Harper just goes to show that Harris teaches his kids to be true to themselves by wearing exactly what they want.
It can be hard to teach kids this, especially in these early years when they are subject to school and bullies. But it seems that the twins have about as much pizzazz as their daddy and they’re proud of it!
3 3. Lunch Plates
Having a hard time getting your kids to eat their vegetables? Take a page out of Neil Patrick Harris’ parenting book! Eating the green stuff doesn’t have to be all bad, especially if it means making silly cartoon accessories with special lunch plates!
The idea actually came from Harris’ husband whose cooking skills are so top-notch that apparently, their kids need little persuasion to devour the contents of their plates.
2 2. Glad To Be Home
Harris has spent the better part of his forty-five years traveling for his work. When he wasn’t on the set of How I Met Your Mother, he was off performing in stage productions or making cameos in films like Harold and Kumar. Harris definitely has his work cut out for him, but it all seems to be worth it once he gets back home to his two adorable kids. In this comical post, the hardworking dad stops to appreciate the moment he has with his two #1’s.
1 1. Crafts At Home
Another reason why Harris is such an iconic father figure is his humbleness. Despite the fact that this actor has seen success since he landed the lead role in Doogie Howser, M.D. at the age of 16, Harris proves a happy family isn’t at the mercy of financial stability. The family has gone on various trips together around the world, but the dynamic clan seems just as content to be sitting at home crafting with their ever-loving fathers.