Single dad working away from home for weeks shares daughter's late night text that made him 'smile ear to ear'

The choices and sacrifices we make as parents are challenging. However, in the best interest of our kids, we often pick options that may not be the best fit for us. Sometimes, we question these sacrifices and our parenting but there are always moments that make all the effort worthwhile. A single dad, u/crazyunicorntamer, shared that he too, had made some tough decisions for his children. Having 50/50 custody of his kids and working at sea, the dad felt guilty about being away when his 11-year-old daughter reminded him it was all worth it with a touching message.

The dad mentioned in a comment that he had separated from his wife and things had been hard on the kids. However, despite his schedule at sea, he makes it a point to regularly interact with his kids. “I have been at sea for 6 weeks now working but I talk to my kids every day without fail on video calls,” he wrote. He added that it is tough to be away from his kids but he makes the choice so they can have a good, quality life. The dad then revealed that his daughter sent him a message late at night while he was working a night shift and it was all he needed to hear. “One message has so much power to change your day. Today, my smile is ear to ear,” he exclaimed. Sharing a screenshot of the message his daughter sent, the dad was nothing but grateful. 

The 11-year-old girl, out of the blue, sent a text of appreciation to her dad. The impromptu message mentioned all the mundane things she considered special and loved about her father. “Dad, I just wanted to tell you that you’re the best dad in the world. I love you more than anything. You’re so funny and cool and I love it when we play games together and go on adventures,” she wrote. She added that her dad “makes her happy,” and that she was looking forward to spending more time with him when he was back. The dad revealed in another comment that he had to stay on the shift longer than expected but the message gave him the motivation he needed.

The little girl was just being herself but that random message served as a touching encouragement to the dad to keep going, keep making sacrifices and keep working hard. “She will never know how much her message means to me,” the dad wrote. The dad shared how he was eager to be with his kids and continue the adventures she spoke of. “Kids don’t want money or fancy toys, they want time and love,” he remarked. Several parents agreed with the dad’s words and even applauded him for making tough choices and being a thoughtful father. u/HeavyRightFoot19 wrote, “Congratulations on hitting the lottery. Great kids come from great parents.” u/puffinbluffin added, “As a dad of girls, this put the biggest smile on my face. You are doing dadding right if you're getting messages like that brother!”