10 Sweet Stories of People Who Deserve a «Parent of the Year» Award

It’s heartwarming to hear about people who have amazing parents who support them with love and laughter, even as they grow older. Their stories can really touch your heart and make you appreciate your own loved ones even more.

  • Mom noticed Dad had red lipstick on his collar, but she didn’t confront him about it. A few days later, I discovered the foundation on his hand, which infuriated me. I confronted my dad, causing a big scene. He confessed that he was taking makeup classes, which only made my mom angrier.
    However, my dad proved he wasn’t cheating; he had been practicing makeup on himself. He demonstrated his skills, showing how well he could do it. He explained that with two daughters, one grown and one young, and another on the way, he wanted to be a good dad who could do anything for them.
  • At the age of 17, I suddenly realized that I didn’t fit the conventional standards of beauty among my peers. I faced ridicule for being red-haired, petite, and freckled. To hide my insecurities, I started covering my freckles with foundation, dyed my hair dark, and wore ill-fitting clothes. My dad noticed this change and gently probed to understand the reason behind it.
    Eventually, I broke down, cried, and poured out my heart to him. In response, he simply said, «So what if you’re petite, with short legs, and red-haired? These are just features! Look at how cute you are! Embrace who you are.» His words struck a chord within me, and I finally began to accept and love myself for who I am.
  • I stumbled upon a mysterious note tucked inside Dad’s wallet one day. Intrigued, I decided to investigate further. Days later, while rummaging through Dad’s briefcase, I discovered a hidden compartment containing another note and a small trinket. Confused and curious, I confronted Dad, demanding an explanation for these clandestine discoveries.
    To my surprise, Dad confessed that he had been leaving secret love notes and tokens of affection around the house for Mom as a romantic gesture. Initially taken aback, I couldn’t help but feel touched by Dad’s thoughtfulness and creativity. Witnessing this sweet gesture between my parents sparked a newfound appreciation for the depth of their love, showing me the power of small surprises in keeping the spark alive in a relationship.
  • Father returned from work, his expression serious as he approached my mom and me. He began, «Do you know who I just saw?!» We waited in anticipation as he continued, «I was walking in the dark, with only one lantern shining, when suddenly, a huge hare jumped out!» Mom and I exchanged surprised glances, only for Dad to pull out a large chocolate bar, saying, «So this bunny asked me to give you a chocolate bar!» Despite being 24 years old, I still fall for this joke about the bunny, as if I were still 6!
  • After finishing school, I accompanied my mother to enroll in university. I passed the exams and was accepted, with my mother’s help in securing a dorm room. Late in the evening, my mom left, leaving me with all the money except for enough for her ticket back home. Excited to start this new chapter of independence, I eagerly joined new friends for a night of celebration.
    What I didn’t know was that my mother missed the last bus and spent the entire night at the station, with only enough money for a ticket and a simple meal of tea and cookies. It wasn’t until 7 years later that I learned about her sacrifice, and I cried uncontrollably upon realizing her selflessness.
  • During a family camping trip, I mentioned how much I’d love to try fishing. Despite not being huge fans of fishing themselves, my parents set up all the gear and patiently showed me how to cast a line. Throughout the day, I struggled to catch anything, but they kept cheering me on with big smiles.
    Finally, I caught my first fish—a tiny trout—and their excitement was contagious. It wasn’t until much later that I realized they had given up their fun to make sure I had a chance to try fishing. Their selfless gesture showed me just how much they cared, leaving a lasting impression on my heart.
  • A week before my wedding, I discovered that my fiancé was cheating on me. Heartbroken, I turned to my mother for advice. While she sympathized with me, she urged me not to cancel the wedding. She reasoned that since everything was paid for, and I’d feel ashamed in front of relatives, it was best to go through with it for now, and later I could seek revenge and find peace. Reluctantly, I agreed.
    However, my wedding day turned out to be the worst day of my life. Just before the ceremony, my dad noticed my distress and pulled me aside for a chat. I broke down and confessed everything to him. Instead of scolding me, he hugged me tightly and said, «Your happiness is what matters most. We’ll handle this together.» With his support, I confronted my cheating fiancé, expressed my true feelings, and walked away with my dignity intact. As we left, my dad proudly said, «That’s my girl!» and added a few words of affection.
  • I remember my dad always getting really excited about very cheap, mundane foods like plain puffed rice cereal, bologna sandwiches, and unflavored steel-cut oats. He would get us all amped up about it, and we would want to eat it instead of the more expensive stuff we really wanted because of how much he talked it up. Now that I am older (and as a father myself), I don’t think he actually loved all these things that much. Instead, my parents just didn’t have the money to buy all that expensive food to feed three growing boys. © Rebelsoul3480 / Reddit
  • A friend’s 14-year-old daughter boldly requested money for a tattoo—right on her face. While her mom resorted to calming herbal drinks, the father and daughter engaged in a serious discussion about the matter. Eventually, they agreed to visit a tattoo artist over the weekend. «I’ll pay double,» declared the father, «but first, you’ll feel the needle without any ink.»
    During the appointment, the father discreetly instructed the artist to make the process as painful as possible. As the heart design began to take shape on her cheek, the daughter howled in agony—it hurt a lot. Despite the pain, they returned home that evening, all satisfied. It seems the father’s approach maintained a positive relationship with his daughter; after all, a stubborn refusal might have only led to more defiance.
  • I went to visit my parents, feeling tired and overwhelmed with problems from all sides—work, friends, and personal issues. My mom and dad immediately sensed my mood and set out to cheer me up. They made my favorite comfort foods: cutlets with mashed potatoes and cake with tea.
    Then, my father surprised me by borrowing a sled from a neighbor and taking me for a ride. For a couple of hours, all my worries melted away, and I felt like a child again—carefree and joyful. In those precious moments, I realized that no matter how old I am, I will always be my dad’s little daughter in his eyes.

We recommend reading a story of a woman who tried to warn her sister about her new boyfriend, but unfortunately, her sister didn’t take her advice. Now, she’s going through a tough divorce.

Preview photo credit jcomp / Freepik

All of My Right Shoes Kept Going Missing – When I Finally Found Out Why, It Shook Me to My Core

All my right shoes kept disappearing, and I was at my wit’s end trying to figure out why. When I finally uncovered the truth, it was about something far deeper and more heartbreaking than just a missing shoe.

When I married Randy, I never imagined how much my life would change. His house was enormous, bigger than anything I had ever lived in.

A mansion in winter | Source: Pexels

A mansion in winter | Source: Pexels

It was the kind of place that felt like a mansion compared to my old apartment. But what made it feel like home wasn’t the size or the fancy furniture. It was Randy and Martha.

Martha was his six-year-old daughter, and she was the sweetest little girl. From the moment I met her, she started calling me “Mom.” Randy had been raising her alone since she was a toddler, and I admired how close they were.

A father hugging his daughter | Source: Pexels

A father hugging his daughter | Source: Pexels

Living with Randy’s family took some getting used to. His mother and sister lived with us, too. His mom, Evelyn, was the no-nonsense type. She was always busy with gardening, cooking, or knitting scarves no one seemed to wear. Randy’s sister, Tammy, was younger, still figuring out life, and spent most of her time on her phone.

At first, everything felt perfect. Everyone seemed happy with the arrangement, and I didn’t mind sharing the space. The house was so big, we could go hours without running into each other. But then, something odd started happening.

A big family dinner | Source: Pexels

A big family dinner | Source: Pexels

One morning, I got up early for my gym session. I was half-asleep when I went to grab my sneakers. I found one, but the other was missing.

“Where’s the right one?” I muttered, searching under the bed. Nothing. I checked the closet, the bathroom, and even the kitchen. Still nothing.

A woman searching for her shoe | Source: Midjourney

A woman searching for her shoe | Source: Midjourney

I ended up wearing an old pair of flip-flops to the gym that day. I thought I must’ve misplaced the shoe somehow, but it didn’t feel right. I always kept them together by the door.

The next day, it happened again. This time, it was my favorite pair of Birkenstocks. The left one was exactly where it should be, but the right was gone.

One single shoe | Source: Pexels

One single shoe | Source: Pexels

By the end of the week, it was a pattern. Every time I needed a pair of shoes, the left one was there, but the right one had vanished.

“Randy, have you seen my sneakers?” I asked one morning while he was sipping his coffee.

He looked up from his laptop and shrugged. “Nope. Did you check the closet?”

A smiling man with a laptop | Source: Pexels

A smiling man with a laptop | Source: Pexels

“Yes, and under the bed, and everywhere else.” I threw my hands in the air. “It’s like they’re disappearing. First my sneakers, then my Birkenstocks, and now my pumps. It’s ridiculous!”

He laughed. “Maybe the house is haunted.”

I rolled my eyes. “Very funny.”

I decided to ask Evelyn. If anyone had seen my shoes, it would have been her. She was always up early, cleaning or organizing something.

A woman cleaning a window | Source: Pexels

A woman cleaning a window | Source: Pexels

“Evelyn, have you seen my shoes? The right ones keep disappearing.”

She looked up from her knitting. “Your shoes? No, I haven’t seen them. Are you sure you didn’t leave them somewhere?”

“Absolutely not.”

She shook her head. “Maybe it’s Martha? Kids are sneaky.”

Martha? The thought hadn’t crossed my mind. She was always playing around, but I couldn’t imagine her hiding my shoes.

A puzzled woman talking to her mother-in-law | Source: Midjourney

A puzzled woman talking to her mother-in-law | Source: Midjourney

“Martha,” I said that evening as I tucked her into bed, “have you been playing with my shoes?”

She looked up at me with big, innocent eyes. “No, Mom. I didn’t touch them.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “I promise.”

Her answer seemed genuine, so I let it go. But the next morning, when another right shoe disappeared, I knew something wasn’t right.

An awkward suspicious woman | Source: Freepik

An awkward suspicious woman | Source: Freepik

One afternoon, while searching for an old film camera in the pantry, I stumbled on something odd. Behind a stack of boxes was a dusty suitcase, half-open.

“What’s this?” I said to myself, pulling it out.

When I opened it, my heart dropped. Inside were all my missing shoes, neatly stacked.

“What in the world…” I whispered, staring at the bizarre collection.

A suitcase filled with single shoes | Source: Midjourney

A suitcase filled with single shoes | Source: Midjourney

My confusion turned to suspicion. The suitcase wasn’t mine, but I recognized it. It belonged to Evelyn.

I carried it to the living room, my chest tight with frustration and disbelief. Evelyn was sitting in her usual chair, sipping tea.

“Evelyn,” I said, holding up the suitcase, “can you explain this?”

Her brow furrowed. “Explain what?”

A surprised middle-aged woman | Source: Pexels

A surprised middle-aged woman | Source: Pexels

I opened the suitcase, showing her the shoes. “These. Why are my shoes in your suitcase?”

She stared at the shoes, then back at me, her face a mixture of confusion and defensiveness. “I have no idea. I’ve never seen them before.”

“How could you not know? It’s your suitcase!”

Evelyn set her tea down and crossed her arms. “I’m telling you the truth. I didn’t do this.”

A woman arguing with her mother-in-law | Source: Midjourney

A woman arguing with her mother-in-law | Source: Midjourney

Her tone was firm, but I didn’t know what to believe.

Frustrated and exhausted, I knew there was no more guessing. I needed answers. That evening, I called everyone into the living room. The suitcase of shoes sat in the center of the coffee table like a piece of evidence at a crime scene.

Randy arrived first, looking confused. “What’s this about?” he asked, gesturing to the suitcase.

A puzzled confused man | Source: Freepik

A puzzled confused man | Source: Freepik

“I found my missing shoes,” I said firmly. “And I want to know who’s responsible.”

Evelyn walked in next, her expression already defensive. Tammy followed with earbuds in, scrolling on her phone. Martha trailed behind them, clutching her stuffed bunny.

I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice. “I’ve been losing my right shoes for weeks. This morning, I found all of them hidden in Evelyn’s suitcase in the pantry.”

A woman talking in the living room | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking in the living room | Source: Midjourney

Evelyn threw her hands up. “And I already told you, I don’t know how they got there! I don’t even go in the pantry except to grab flour.”

“Then who?” I asked, scanning the room. My voice wavered slightly, and I hated how desperate I sounded. “Someone in this house has been messing with me, and I need to know why.”

A puzzled woman in the living room | Source: Midjourney

A puzzled woman in the living room | Source: Midjourney

Randy stepped forward, his brow furrowed. “Let’s not jump to conclusions,” he said, his tone calm but firm. “We’ll figure this out.”

Tammy looked up from her phone, finally catching on. “Wait, are you accusing us of stealing your shoes? That’s crazy.”

“I’m not accusing anyone,” I shot back. “I just need the truth.”

A young woman on her phone | Source: Pexels

A young woman on her phone | Source: Pexels

The room went silent. The weight of the unspoken filled the air. Then, just as I was about to speak again, a small voice broke through the tension.

“It was me.”

I turned toward Martha, stunned. She stood near the doorway, tears streaming down her face, clutching her stuffed bunny tighter.

“What?” I whispered.

A crying girl near her dollhouse | Source: Pexels

A crying girl near her dollhouse | Source: Pexels

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice trembling. “I took them. I didn’t mean to make you upset. Please don’t be mad.”

I blinked, trying to process her words. “You… took my shoes? Why, Martha?”

She looked down at the floor, twisting the bunny’s ear in her tiny hands. “I thought… if you didn’t have shoes, you couldn’t leave. You’d have to stay with me.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.

A shocked woman | Source: Pexels

A shocked woman | Source: Pexels

“Oh, honey…” Randy knelt beside her, his voice soft and gentle. “Why would you think she’d leave?”

Martha looked up at him, her face crumpling with fresh tears. “Because Mommy left. She didn’t say goodbye. She just… went away.”

The room grew still. Randy’s face was pale, his eyes glistening. Evelyn wiped at her own eyes with a tissue.

Martha turned to me, her little voice breaking. “I don’t want you to leave, too.”

An upset little girl | Source: Midjourney

An upset little girl | Source: Midjourney

I dropped to my knees in front of her, my chest aching. “Sweetheart,” I whispered, pulling her into my arms. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise you.”

She buried her face in my shoulder, sobbing quietly.

For a long moment, no one spoke. The weight of Martha’s pain hung heavy in the air.

Shocked people | Source: Freepik

Shocked people | Source: Freepik

“I’m so sorry, Martha,” I murmured. “I didn’t know you were feeling this way. But you don’t have to be scared. I love you, and I’m staying right here.”

Tammy cleared her throat. “Jeez, Martha, you could’ve just said something.”

Evelyn gave her a sharp look. “Tammy!”

“What?” Tammy muttered, looking embarrassed.

A woman looking away from her phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking away from her phone | Source: Midjourney

Randy stood and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Thank you,” he said softly, his voice filled with emotion.

Martha pulled back, her tears slowing. “You’re not mad?” she asked, her voice small.

“Not at all,” I said, wiping her cheeks. “I’m just glad you told me. You don’t have to hide anything from me, okay?”

She nodded, sniffling.

A crying girl looking to her side | Source: Pexels

A crying girl looking to her side | Source: Pexels

As I tucked her into bed that night, I held her hand and promised her again: “I’m here, Martha. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Her small fingers gripped mine tightly. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too.”

A girl sleeping | Source: Pexels

A girl sleeping | Source: Pexels

As the house settled into its usual quiet, I sat on the edge of my bed, holding one of my reunited shoes. I turned it over in my hands, still amazed at how something so small had uncovered something so big.

I thought back to all the times I’d been frustrated, searching for shoes and feeling confused. In hindsight, it seemed so trivial. But for Martha, it had been her way of trying to protect herself from losing someone she loved.

A smiling woman in her bedroom | Source: Midjourney

A smiling woman in her bedroom | Source: Midjourney

The lesson wasn’t lost on me. Love requires patience and understanding, especially in a blended family. It’s about paying attention to what isn’t said and listening with more than your ears.

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