I met my wife 10 years ago. She had a 4 year old daughter from her previous relationship. We ended up getting married and having 2 kids together. Since I knew my stepdaughter we have always gotten along good but I never thought she had seen me as a father figure. Her own father is a complete deadbeat full of broken promises. He hurt SD and my wife countless times over the years. SD always tried to have a relationship with him while her father never put in any effort. He broke many promises and it really hurt SD.
This year is SD first year of high school, she’s on the Tennis team and is doing really great also doing great in school. She had been trying to get her father to come to a tennis match for a month. I guess he finally agreeded to come to her match last night. She played great but he wasn’t there. It put SD in a bad mood and was upset the rest of the night. Late last night I was the only one up just watching tv, SD came downstairs for a glass of water. I told her I was proud of her, she shrugged and said thanks.
I then told her I had known her majority of her life. That I’ve seen her grown in every way possible. That I know I’m not her father, but ill always be around for support and guidance. That I have always considered her to be my daughter, that I love her so much and am proud of the person she is becoming. I didn’t know how SD would react, she just hugged me and cried for a while. Said she loved me too. This just happened last night but I already feel a shift in our relationship.
Just wanted to share a sweet moment on reddit.
Comments
She’s very lucky to have you 😊
This brought tears to my eyes! Thank you!
Beautiful. Truly. Thank you, for being wholesome in such a way
Thank you for stepping up and being a dad for this little girl when her biological father didn’t care about her. She and her mother are so lucky you came along.
Aww. This is lovely ❤️ don’t see this every day.
The world needs more good people like you and less deadbeats. You will be blessed for your love and kindness
In my eyes, you’re the real father and I’m sure she must be thinking the same as well. She’s very lucky to have a father like you OP
Who’s cutting onions??
Bless you both.
You gave her exactly what she needed at the moment she was open to accept it. You are her dad there is no step in that word here.
You’re her dad! Blood always doesn’t mean family! Trust me, you’re her dad in every other way.
Someone pass me the Kleenex please, I have a father in my eye
What a good man you are
And too many of these posts, the step kids come off as bratty or worse toxic. It’s good that your stepdaughter is it beginning to appreciate the Father figure who’s actually putting in an effort!
Sometimes people need the words as well as the actions
My step dad stepped up where my dad didn’t growing up and he’s absolutely one of the most important people in my life. She is so lucky to have you and I know as she gets older she’ll understand just how lucky she is. My step dad is the one I wanted to give me away at my wedding and he’s the one I phone for dad advice even though I’m in my 40’s! Just know as she gets older and you keep being there for her that you will be the one she turns to and how grateful she will be for you, even if she doesn’t always say it. Thank you for being an amazing step dad.
Thank you for being there for her. I grew up with a step dad because my father lived far away. My step dad was an amazing man when he married my mom he took on 3 preteen teenagers. She is lucky to have you in her life.
I know it sounds corny, and it’s been overused, but I need to say it. You may be a stepdad, but in fact, you are dad who stepped up.
Oh my gosh this makes my heart so happy. Thank you for being a good man and loving her as your own. She is lucky to have you in her life regardless if her bio dad is a POS and continues to be or not.
That’s wonderful for both of you. I have two step daughters from my wife and we have no bio kids together. The girls father is a text book narcissist and they tried so hard to have a relationship with him. I’ve been in these girls lives for 20 years now. They are both adults and have kids of their own. Like you, I saw them grow up and always showed them love, gave guidance and support and put one of them through college. It wasn’t until they both were adults that they asked if they could call me Dad. Obviously that was an incredible moment for me.
Good on you for being there for her and doing what you do 🙂
This warms my heart. Her response to you is exactly what she needed to hear.
Keep being there for her, keep your promises, turn up for her tennis games and keep reinforcing that positive energy and verbal assurances (she really needs to hear that she’s amazing and special until she builds that belief in herself) Love & adore her just as if she’s your daughter, the same as you do your younger two.
She’s at that age where these negative experiences from her sperm donor can have such a bad affect on her, that she grows up and makes bad choices because that’s how she thinks she’s meant to be treated.
You are doing great!
she’s got a these
That’s beautiful. You showed up for her when it mattered most, and that means everything. You’re her real dad in all the ways that count.
I’m crying.
You always hear the horror stories of step parents. I’ve witnessed some horrible situations.
When I read or see a good situation, it makes me cry because only special people have the ability to love a child that’s not their own.
Great job dad