There’s a bull market for dad jokes, both on the internet and in the culture at large. We’ve accepted the idea that corny jokes are as much a part of fatherhood as strollers and diaper bags. The baby pops out and a switch flips in our brain, compelling us to ask people if they know what’s brown and sticky (a stick!) or to say “hello, hungry, I’m dad.” Humor is an important tool in your parenting quiver — it can, after all, be used to deescalate a situation, infuse joy into the everyday, and teach a child to not take everything so seriously. But it can also backfire. Before a dad joke is deployed, it’s important to ask whether it’s used to lighten the mood or maintain distance.