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41 Daughter Quotes That Will Touch and Melt Your Heart
Family

41 Daughter Quotes That Will Touch and Melt Your Heart

Having a daughter is undoubtedly a blessing. However, raising a girl with high self-esteem can be quite challenging. Between social media's filtered reality of perfect women and society's shifting expectations, parents face the daunting task of nurturing authentic self-worth in their daughters.These carefully selected daughter quotes help provide a starting point. They're simple reminders that whatever accomplishments you may have to date, raising a daughter is probably your biggest one.Let these words inspire you to nurture raise and nurture a daughter who defines herself through her strength, not by society's impossible standards. Offer genuine praise for their efforts, passions, and personal growth. This way, we’ll make sure our daughters understand their true value without looking for validation in a fashion magazine.Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva on PexelsHeartwarming Quotes About DaughtersPhoto by Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels“Mother and daughter never truly part, maybe in distance but never in heart.” – Unknown"Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be." -- Clementine Paddleford“Little girls are the nicest things that happen to people. They are born with a little bit of angelshine about them, and though it wears thin sometimes there is always enough left to lasso your heart.” -- Alan Beck"When I come home, my daughter will run to the door and give me a big hug, and everything that’s happened that day just melts away."-- Hugh JackmanGet the perfect gift for your daughter"A daughter is just a little girl who grows up to be your best friend.”-- Unknown"A daughter is a bundle of firsts that excite and delight, giggles that come from deep inside and are always contagious, everything wonderful and precious and your love for her knows no bounds." -- Barbara Cage"A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart." - Unknown Photo by Picsea on Unsplash"Who can describe the transports of a beam truly parental on beholding a daughter shoot up like some fair and modest flower, and acquire, day after day, fresh beauty and growing sweetness, so as to fill every eye with pleasure and every heart with admiration?" -- George Fordyce"My daughter makes me laugh with her incredibly humorous take on the world. Everything makes her laugh, and I aspire to take in the world the same shoes she does."-- Unknown"To my beautiful daughter. If I could only give you one thing in this life, I would give you the ability to see yourself how I see you every single day. Your beauty, your kindness, how happy you make me and how proud I am of you. Perhaps then you would be able to understand just how special you are to me."-- Dave Hedges“Having a little girl has been like following an old treasure map with the important paths torn away.” -- Heather Gudenkauf"Death has its revelations: the great sorrows which open the heart open the mind as well; light comes to us with our grief. As for me, I have faith; I believe in a future life. How could I do otherwise? My daughter was a soul; I saw this soul. I touched it, so to speak."-- Victor HugoEmpowering Quotes About DaughtersPhoto by Pamela Buenrostro on UnsplashFrom world leaders to artists, parents across different walks of life share a common vision. These quotes celebrate raising fierce, independent girls who define their own paths."I never, ever grew up as a young woman believing that my gender would stand in the way of doing anything I wanted."-- Jacinda Ardern"Absolutely, I don't believe in rules. As I tell my daughter when she is mischievous, ‘Well-behaved women rarely make history."-- Nia Vardalos“And though she be but little, she is fierce.”-- William Shakespeare"I hope that my daughter grows up empowered and doesn't define herself by the way she looks but by qualities that make her a intelligent, strong and responsible woman."-- Isaiah Mustafa"I will let my daughter do whatever her heart wants. I will support her and guide her and give her all the knowledge that I have because I want her to succeed in whatever she loves."-- The Miz"We gotta start teaching our daughters to be somebodies instead of somebody's." - Kifah Shah Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels"What's important for my daughter to know is that... if you are fortunate to have opportunity, it is your duty to make sure other people have those opportunities as well." -- Kamala Harris"Women are in a position now to voice their opinion... women are getting empowered. The more power they get, the more voice they get to shift certain things around. Now I have a daughter, I understand. When I didn't have a daughter, I didn't understand." -- Snoop DoggFather-Daughter Quotes That Reveal Their Special Bond"We like to think we are so smart and we have all the answers. And we want to pass all that on to our children, but if you scratch beneath the surface you don’t have to dig very deep to find the kid you were.”-- Phil Dunphy“I thought I’d never be that annoying person, but as soon as Winnie was born, I was showing iPhone snaps to a cab driver.”-- Jimmy Fallon"Behind every great daughter is a truly amazing dad."-- UnknownPhoto by Ron Lach from Pexels"Every day is Father's Day to me when I'm with her: when I'll be able to hold my daughter and see her grow and see her smile. That's Father's Day to me every day."-- Saquon Barkley“It is admirable for a man to take his son fishing, but there is a special place in heaven for the father who takes his daughter shopping.”-- John Sinor"To a father growing old nothing is dearer than a daughter." - EuripidesPhoto by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels“Daddy, thanks for being my hero, chauffeur, financial support, listener, life mentor, friend, guardian and simply being there every time I need a hug."-- Agatha Stephanie Lin"No matter how old my daughter gets, she'll always be my baby girl." -- Anonymous@sofiarichiegrainge / instagram"Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters, there is something which there are no words to express."-- Joseph Addison“Being a daddy’s girl is like having permanent armor for the rest of your life.” - Marinela RekaPhoto by Josh Willink on Pexels“They say that from the instant he lays eyes on her, a father adores his daughter. Whoever she grows up to be, she is always to him that little girl in pigtails. She makes him feel like Christmas. In exchange, he makes a secret promise not to see the awkwardness of her teenage years, the mistakes she makes or the secrets she keeps.”-- Unknown"Having a daughter makes you see things in a different way. This is my only girl. So I don't care what it takes to protect her. You can call it what you want to call it. As long as you treat her the same way I treat her, like my princess, I don't mind."-- Tracy MorganMoving Quotes About the Mother-Daughter RelationshipMother Daughter Quotes to remind you how special the mother daughter bond really is!Photo by leah hetteberg on Unsplash"The relationship between parents and children, but especially between mothers and daughters, is tremendously powerful, scarcely to be comprehended in any rational way." -- Joyce Carol Oates"A mother's treasure is her daughter."-- Catherine Pulsifer"Mothers and daughters together are a powerful force to be reckoned with." - Melia Keeton-DigbyPhoto by RODNAE Productions on Pexels"They both began to giggle and then... fell into a side-splitting round of laughter, the cleansing, complete sort of laughter only a mother and daughter can share." -- Karen Kingsbury“Having a little girl has been like following an old treasure map with the important paths torn away.” -- Heather Gudenkauf"I tell my daughter every morning, 'Now, what are the two most important parts of you?' And she says, 'My head and my heart'."-- Viola Davis“Find it within you to love exactly who you are and to know you’re capable, you’re loved and you’re beautiful. The world is a better place, because of you. You are unique because there is only ONE of you.”-- Shantel VanSanten"Having a daughter is God's way of saying, 'Here, thought you could use a lifelong friend'." -- Unknown"A mother is the only person in the world who can turn her daughter’s worries and fears into happiness."-- Anonymous"The thing I'm the most proud of in my personal life is that my daughter actually thinks that I'm fabulous."-- Brooke Shields"Our daughters are the most precious of our treasures, the dearest possessions of our homes and the objects of our most watchful love." -- Margaret E. Sangster"The more a daughter knows the details of her mother’s life… the stronger the daughter." -- Anita Diamant"I am not a perfect mother and I will never be. You are not a perfect daughter and you will never be. But put us together and we will be the best mother and daughter we would ever be.” -- Zoraida Pesante"A daughter Is a mother's best friend. Every time you smile, she loves you more; every time you laugh or cry, she cries too and every time you hold her close, she holds you tight."-- Anonymous“Life is tough, my darling daughter, but so are you.”-- Stephanie Bennet HenryQuotes for Parents Raising Teenage DaughtersPhoto by Any Lane from Pexels“All I know is that I carried you for nine months. I fed you, I clothed you, I paid for your college education. Friending me on Facebook seems like a small thing to ask in return.” -- Jodi Picoult“Little girls are cute and small only to adults. To one another they are not cute. They are life-sized.” -- Margaret Atwood"A daughter is a treasure and a cause of sleeplessness."-- Ben Sirach“Many a man wishes he were strong enough to tear a telephone book in half — especially if he has a teenage daughter.”-- Guy Lombardo"My daughter is the biggest gift; I've said it so many times and it sounds like a cliche, but the thing about being a parent is when you think you've cracked it, and you're on top of your game, they change again and you have to catch up and adjust. I feel such a responsibility to instill good values in her, to be polite, to have discipline."-- Geri Halliwell"I've come to understand that art is awesome and beautiful because it's a reflection of life - but it's just a reflection, and the real thing is my daughter."-- Chance the Rapper "Patience, my daughter, learn patience, and life will be easier." - Catherine PulsiferPhoto by Анастасия on Pexels"A daughter is a miracle that never ceases to be miraculous... full of beauty and forever beautiful... loving and caring and truly amazing." -- Deanna Beisser"So, after much observation, I realized that our daughters needed the same things we lacked in our younger years… wisdom. Without wisdom we continue to blunder through life repeating the same mistakes." -- Laura Alexander"To my daughter: Never forget that I love you. Life is filled with hard times and good times. Learn from everything you can. Be the woman I know you can be." -- UnknownQuotes for When Your Little Girl Is All Grown Up“Missing someone is part of loving them. Not until you are apart do you realize how much they mean to you.”-- Nikhil Saluja“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”-- Terry Pratchett "Your daughter will remember when you sat for her to put makeup on you and braided her hair more than she will remember material gifts. These will be the memories she cherishes forever." -- Dotjay“The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back.”-- Wendy Wunder“My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to; your dreams stay big and your worries stay small; you never need to carry more than you can hold.”-- Rascal Flatts"It's a beautiful thing, watching another adult walking around out there in the world with my heart beating inside them."-- Anonymous

Man Explains Why He Refuses to Help His Wife and 4 Kids Around the House - And Strangers Are Praising Him for It
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Man Explains Why He Refuses to Help His Wife and 4 Kids Around the House - And Strangers Are Praising Him for It

It's no secret that when it comes to domestic duties such as childcare, cooking, and cleaning, women tend to take on the lion's share of the work, even when both partners are working full-time.To be fair, a lot of husbands do shoulder their fair share of the housework, however, let's face it, many do not. The domestic gender gap is REAL.So, when a husband took to TikTok to sound off on NOT HELPING his wife with chores and their four young children, people weren't exactly blown away by surprise. But what was unexpected was his reason why. And suddenly? This guy's gone from zero to hero in the eyes of 7 million people and counting. Why a Husband Doesn’t “Help” His Wife Around the HouseTexas UPS driver, J.R. Minton, grew up in a "traditional" household. His mom did typical "motherly" things while his dad brought home the bacon and left the domestic duties alone. But Minton's determined to do things differently. The father of four young kids ages one to seven, took to TikTok to share his message on partnership.His video, which has been viewed by millions, starts off with him contentiously stating, "I don't help my wife cook. I don't help her clean, do laundry, take care of the kids — none of that."Uh-huh. Or, as one commenter expressed, "I was ready to fight 😅👏🏾." (You and about 7 million other women, give or take.)But hold on a minute, Minton's not done. And another commenter's decision to hold her breath and "trust the algorithm" pays off. Because this is where he jumps the tracks and takes a hard left."Because I do what I am supposed to do as a father and a husband. I cook. I clean. I do the laundry. I take care of the kids. I can't help my wife do those things because they are my job too."J.R. Minton"Change the way you speak. Change the way you think and grow the f--- up and be a man," he adds. Mic drop.Husband’s TikTok Take On Sharing Responsibilities Goes Viral and People Are Loving ItResponse to Minton's video was swift, racking up 1.4 million likes and nearly 16,000 comments. People came out in droves, praising him for his perspective.On the flip side, however, it seems that many households still follow conventional gender norms and attitudes, with a number of men viewing doing basic duties as "helping" their partners. "Had to tell my husband stop saying, '…for your mother,' to the kids. Empty the dishwasher FOR ME? No. Those are everybody’s dishes." wrote one."My ex used to say 'I did the dishes for you.' FOR ME! Thanks and bu-bye," wrote another.Others revealed that when it comes to domestic labor, they're on their own. "My husband sometimes doesn’t even flush the toilet.""Not me seeing this while crying in the bathroom cause I'm just so damn exhausted."In a follow-up TikTok, Minton thanks his fans but warns that he's not some "unicorn." He's a husband and dad, just doing what his wife does every single day. A fact he had driven home during a recent trip to Target.“I was wearing the baby and I had two kids in the cart, and this lady comes up to Brittany and she’s like, ‘Oh my God. Is this your husband!? Look at him. You should take a picture of him,’” Minton told Today. “I get so much credit for doing nothing. How low is the bar?"Trust me, it's low. Society has a tendency to perceive moms and dads VERY differently. Fathers tend to get a lot more credit for showing up as parents in ways that moms are expected to do all the time. Marriage Is a PartnershipAs far as we have come in balancing the scales, the reality is that we still have a long way to go in shifting attitudes and achieving true equality where domestic labor is concerned. And science proves it. According to a recent study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey, women spend 37% more time doing domestic tasks than men. And if the woman happens to be bringing home the majority of the bacon? They're actually taking on an even greater share of the housework as per a study from the University of Bath.Obviously, as Minton proves, this isn't the case for every family. There are plenty of husbands and fathers who view their marriages in a similar light — as a partnership. Minton just hopes that his message hits home with the ones he thinks need to hear it. "When you're in a partnership with your spouse, it's not help," Minton said. "Everything is a shared responsibility in the house when it comes to taking care of each other's needs, the children's needs, especially the needs of the home."At the end of the day, every family needs to decide what works best for them. And when it comes to the division of domestic labor? It should be what is equitable and fair for both partners. More from Goalcast:Woman Learns Her Exhausted Co-worker Bikes Three Hours to Work – So She and Her Husband Come Up With a PlanWoman Has a Dream About the Same Baby for Months – Fights to Adopt Her Husband’s Dead Ex-wife’s SonStrangers Accuse Kenyan Woman of Marrying Her Husband for Money – The Couple Hits Back With the Perfect Response

Dad Dumps 80,000 Pennies in Child Support on Estranged Daughters Lawn - Her Response Is Absolute Gold
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Dad Dumps 80,000 Pennies in Child Support on Estranged Daughters Lawn - Her Response Is Absolute Gold

When a dad in Virginia decided to celebrate his final child support payment for his daughter by paying it in PENNIES and dumping all 80,000 of them on his ex-wife's front lawn, his daughter proved who really has the "cents" in the family.Dad Dumps $800 Worth of Pennies in Daughter’s Yard in Cruel StuntPhoto by PixabayAccording to News 6 Richmond, the unnamed father "acted out of 18 years of pent-up frustration" when he rented a landscape trailer, filled it with pennies, and proceeded to dump them all over the yard of the home his daughter shares with her mother.Perhaps he should have considered taking up yoga instead."I just turned 18. When I was in the middle of class, my dad came by. He had rented a trailer," Avery Sanford, a senior in high school, told the news station."He pulled up in front of the house and turned the trailer on so it dumped out all the pennies on the grass and my mom came out and was like, 'What are you dumping in my yard?' She didn't know who it was until he shouted, 'It's your final child support payment.'"The whole bizarre incident was caught on the home's security camera.Understandably, Avery was shocked and extremely hurt by her father's actions. Despite not having seen him in years, it still packed a painful punch. And not just for her, but for her sister as well. “It is really hurtful and damaging to your kids when you do things like that,” her mother said. “And it doesn’t matter how old your kids are — it doesn’t matter if they’re a young child or an adult. The actions of your parents will always have some effect on you.”And while he obviously thought he got the last laugh, he thought wrong. How a Daughter Transformed a Painful Act Into Something GoodTurns out that in this case, the apple DOES fall far from the tree. Far far away. Instead of letting the weight of the situation break her, Avery chose to turn one bad deed into a force for good. After picking up every last penny, she and her mother decided to pay it forward.Together, they donated the money to Safe Harbor, a local domestic abuse center that supports survivors of human trafficking and sexual and domestic abuse. "Turning around and donating that money to moms and children in need, I feel like that really turns this situation into a positive," Avery shared. "You can learn from it."But that wasn't the end. It was actually just the beginning. Their actions triggered a tidal wave of giving.When people learned about her father's appalling behavior and Avery's response to it, donations to the center flooded in. That $800? Turned into over $47,000. "Our online donation page just blew up. And we've gotten over $47,000 worth of donations from locally, nationally, internationally -- as far as England and beyond," said Mary Maupai, Safe Harbor's development director.Kindness Always WinsIt also seems that Avery's father may be feeling the full weight of his 80,000-penny decision. In a phone interview with WTVR, he shared that his "emotions got the best of him" and “the last thing he wanted to do” was push his daughter further away.Unfortunately, that's exactly what he did.The sad reality is that Avery is not the only child to get caught in the crossfire of her warring parents. When it comes to acrimonious divorces, there is almost always collateral damage. But despite the emotional toll her father's actions took, Avery somehow managed to channel all of her hurt and anger into an amazing act of generosity. Rather than fight fire with fire, she chose love. And in doing so, taught us all a powerful lesson in fighting anger with kindness. And kindness? Always wins.More from Goalcast:Exhausted Dad of 4 Doesn’t Notice a Stranger Watching Him Closely at Work – Is Shocked When He Finds This Note on a BillBoy With Autism Walks Into Restaurant to Pick Up a Menu – When He Doesn’t Come Back, His Dad Finds Out What’s Going On8-Year-Old Driving With His Dad Insists on Pulling Over – His Next Move Is Being Praised by Strangers

Man Accuses Wife With Full Time Job of Doing Nothing Around the House - So After Getting Revenge, She Leaves for Vacation
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Man Accuses Wife With Full Time Job of Doing Nothing Around the House - So After Getting Revenge, She Leaves for Vacation

For some strange reason, things that are glaringly obvious to moms tend to be invisible to everyone else. Weird, I know.Things like the dirty dishes in the sink, or the ever-growing mountain of laundry, or that one lonely sock abandoned on the middle stair.And more often than not, moms will just deal with it and no one in the house is any wiser. In fact, moms are so good at being the "default" parent that oftentimes, their families are completely oblivious to just how much she does for them. Until she doesn't.After her husband accused her of “doing nothing around the house,” one mom decided to show him just how much “nothing” she really does. And unsurprisingly, it's A LOT.Mom Goes on Strike Photo by Ron LachA Connecticut mother of two recently went insanely viral on TikTok for going on "strike" after her husband, Brian, made a “totally spontaneous” complaint that she wasn't pulling her weight. Bless him. "The night he made the comment, I was getting the kids ready for bed, and he was cleaning up in the kitchen," Lindsay Donnelly told TODAY. "I noticed he was kind of grumpy and I was like, 'What's going on?' And that's when he made the comment about me doing nothing around the house."Rather than argue with him, she decided to teach him a much-needed lesson. For three days, Donnelly truly did NOTHING around the house. And the results are about as disastrous as you'd expect. Perfectly set to Taylor Swift’s Karma, Donnelly, 33, documented what happened after she silently quit all of it — the dirty dishes, the piles of laundry in the living room, the multiple messes literally everywhere. Over the course of three days, her once invisible labor became painfully, overwhelmingly visible.Then she left town on a girls' trip, leaving Brian to deal with the fallout. Checkmate.Donnelly told TODAY that she and Brian both have full-time jobs. She runs a social media marketing agency and he works in venture capital. They have been married for 7 years and have two kids, 7 and 4 years old.She also added that his dig was a reaction to the typical stress of trying to juggle parenting, work, and household duties, something they do try to divvy up equally. “It wasn’t an ongoing fight. It’s more of the day-to-day ‘keeping a house in order with two working parents and two little kids’ conversation."A Husband Sees the Error of His WaysBy the time Donnelly returned home from her weekend away, not only was the house "spick-and-span" but so was her car. "He told me he was sorry," Donnelly said. He also apologized to her legion of TikTok fans in a follow-up video where Donnelly sits him down to share the news that his comment and her ensuing strike were viewed by MILLIONS of people. 20.7 million to be exact.She also informed him that more than 8,000 commenters were quick to hop aboard the divorce wagon, which she doesn't plan on doing by the way. Brian took it all in stride and the two were able to laugh and find the humor in the situation. A good sign of a healthy relationship."He really is an amazing husband. That was just one moment," Donnelly said.Donnelly's strike wasn't just a retaliation; it was a statement. "I'm constantly tidying — I'm picking up shoes, I'm doing all these things that go unnoticed but add up to a lot," she said.I think it's safe to say they won't go unnoticed anymore.The reality is that women in our society tend to carry a disproportionate load when it comes to parenting and household duties. Much of which is unseen. It's why there is so much talk about the "invisible labor" and the "mental load" of motherhood.But regardless of whether or not this is the case in the Donnelly's house, we all deserve to feel seen and valued. And not just at home. Acknowledgment and appreciation go a long way in all aspects of our lives, including in our relationships, at work, and in our interactions with others.Donnelly's strike wasn't just a learning moment for her husband, it was one for all of us. A reminder to take a moment to appreciate the people around us, who contribute in so many silent ways, often without recognition or fanfare, to make our worlds a better place.More from Goalcast:Woman’s Heart Is Shattered When Her Husband Abandons Her for His Lover – Even Then, She Still Takes Care of His Elderly DadStrangers Accuse Kenyan Woman of Marrying Her Husband for Money – The Couple Hits Back With the Perfect ResponseStay-At-Home Mom’s Boyfriend Accuses Her Of Doing Nothing All Day – What She Does Next Goes Viral

Bride Makes Her New 4-Year-Old Stepson Sob by Reading the Wedding Vows She Had Specially Written for Him
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Bride Makes Her New 4-Year-Old Stepson Sob by Reading the Wedding Vows She Had Specially Written for Him

The day Emily Leehan got married she wasn't just saying "I Do" to her groom, Joshua Newville; she was saying "I Do" to his 4-year-old son, Gage, as well.Not only was their wedding a union of two people in love but it was also a blending of two families and the start of their new journey together.So, the bride didn't just deliver one set of vows on her big day — she delivered two; one to her new husband AND one to her new stepson. While we're certain her vows to Joshua were beautiful, it's what she had to say to Gage and his heartfelt reaction that really takes the (wedding) cake. Spoiler alert: You're going to want to grab the tissues for this one.A Stepmother’s Heartwarming Vows to Her New StepsonAccording to CBS News, Joshua, a sergeant in the Marines, and Emily, a senior airman in the Air Force, dated for two years before getting engaged and tying the knot. Gage was just two years old when Emily flew into his life. Over the years, the two developed a special bond and it's this powerful connection that is clearly shown in the now-viral video of their sweet exchange.In the video, captured by wedding photographer Jessica Husted, Emily is reading her “vows” to little Gage as he gazes up at her. Fighting back tears she begins, “I want you to be safe and to try your hardest and to be a good person," adding, "Don't cry, baby.” Too late. Gage, overcome with emotion, throws himself at her, wrapping his arms tightly around her, sobbing. And now, literally, everybody's crying.Somehow, Emily manages to keep it together and press on."I know you and I will butt heads…" More sobs. "Except for right now," Emily jokes (because sometimes you gotta laugh to keep yourself from crying). As Joshua comforts his weeping son, Emily continues: "But I hope with all my heart that as you become a grown man, you will understand my methods and realize I have only done what’s best for you and that I love you.”She ends her vows by saying, "You are a special boy. You are so extremely smart, handsome, and kind to others." "You have helped shape me into the woman that I am today, and I may not have given you the gift of life, but life surely gave me the gift of you." Emily Newville*SOBS*Why a Stepmom Stepped UpOnce Emily finishes her vows she bends down and hugs Gage, eventually scooping him up in her arms because there's still a wedding to finish. Emily explains that she always knew she wanted Gage to be a part of the ceremony. "I wanted to involve him because when I was vowing to be Josh's wife I was also vowing to be his stepmom. I wanted him to feel special and to remind him of how much he means to me."She also knows just how special the step-parent—child bond can be. She has a special relationship with her own stepdad, who, along with her biological dad, walked her down the aisle.As for Gage's biological mother? She's sharing the love too.“As his mother I can say that she is an amazing step-mother to him,” Kali wrote in a Facebook comment. “I couldn’t have picked someone better. Gage is lucky to have her and I’m so thankful I can trust her to be there when I cannot be!”Blending families can be tricky. It comes with its own unique set of challenges. But family doesn't require blood, it requires love. Family isn't about sharing DNA; it's about sharing life. And in those times when we get to CHOOSE our family? When we get to look another person in the eyes and say, "I choose you," there's something to be said about the incredible power of that kind of love. More from Goalcast:Lifelong Bachelor Finally Gets Married at 93 – To the Woman He Met at His Sister’s Wedding in 1959Homeless Couple Couldn’t Afford to Get Married for 24 Years – Then a Stranger Throws Them a Surprise Wedding

Lonely and Widowed 82-Year-Old Goes Over to New Neighbors House - Little Did They Both Know What Was Coming Next
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Lonely and Widowed 82-Year-Old Goes Over to New Neighbors House - Little Did They Both Know What Was Coming Next

When Sharaine Caraballo, 32, along with her husband Wilson, 42, and their 5 kids moved from Texas to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, they were understandably nervous.After all, moving into a new town and a new neighborhood can be nerve-wracking. You never quite know what to expect. There are a lot of What-Ifs. "Our biggest fear moving into a new neighborhood was, 'What if our neighbors don't like us?' What if, because we have a lot of kids, they make a lot of noise and we come from a big family, so what if there's any conflict with the neighbors?" Sharaine told USA Today. "We're the only Black family in our neighborhood and the only minority," she added.But it turns out, the Caraballos had nothing to worry about. They were exactly where they were meant to be. How a Big Family Became Even BiggerPhoto by August de RichelieuTheir neighbors welcomed them with open arms, and in particular, their 82-year-old neighbor from across the street, Paul Callahan. Shortly after they moved in, he showed up unannounced with a ladder and toolbox, offering to help with home improvements. "He was coming over with tools. He’d bring screwdrivers and teach Wilson how to fix up the garage, and Wilson followed all his advice,” Sharaine recalled.A widower, Callahan had sadly just lost his wife six months earlier. Grieving and alone and the last of his siblings still surviving, he was looking for friends and ways to fill the long, lonely days. What he ended up finding was family. After learning about his loss, Sharaine and her family started including the retired Texas Instruments manager in family cookouts and holiday gatherings. But their relationship didn't stop there. For as much as Callahan was helping Wilson fix up their home, the family was helping to heal his broken heart. An Old Man and a Young Family and the Power of ConnectionThe Caraballos firmly embraced Callahan as one of their own. Now, he spends nearly every day at the house, entertaining the kids, bringing them "little trinkets" and bubbles, and sharing stories about his life. Paul isn't just a friendly neighbor, he's "Grandpa.""The kids run up to him like that's their grandfather," Sharaine, a case manager for domestic violence survivors, said. "He's like an honorary grandpa to us. My husband's father is in the Dominican Republic, so even his mom says 'Here comes your dad Paul!'" And it's not just the kids who benefit, Callahan does too. Having grown up around lots of kids, the octogenarian describes himself as a "very social person." "You get many chances to talk to people. If you don't take a chance, you may miss a friend," said Callahan. "It doesn't hurt to be nice. That's the other thing, it costs you nothing, but a lot of times, you get a better return."For Callahan, the return on his investment has been immeasurable. In fact, he's gotten a whole new lease on life, one filled with laughter, love, joy, purpose, AND family.Sometimes, families are born. But oftentimes, they are made -- crafted through meaningful relationships rather than blood. The Caraballos were looking for acceptance and Callahan was looking for a friend. What they found in each other was so much more. Because sometimes, when we least expect it, people move into our lives at the exact moment we need them the most. More from Goalcast:Woman’s Heart Is Shattered When Her Husband Abandons Her for His Lover – Even Then, She Still Takes Care of His Elderly DadTeens Approach Elderly Man When They Think No One Is Watching – Little Did They Know What Would Happen Next

Poor Dad Raises His 4 Children Alone After His Wife Abandons Them to Start a New Family With Someone Else
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Poor Dad Raises His 4 Children Alone After His Wife Abandons Them to Start a New Family With Someone Else

Enrique Alegría Valdivia wasn't planning on being a single dad to four children. But when his wife abruptly walked out the door and didn't look back, he wasn't given a choice.Yet, despite being thrust into single fatherhood in the midst of poverty, the dedicated father is taking care of his children just fine, proving that parental love can overcome any obstacle.The Struggles of Single ParenthoodPhoto by Tom FiskLife in the Cerro Colorado district in Arequipa, Peru was already hard for the Valdivia family. Living in poverty, Valdivia and his wife struggled to provide for the basic needs of their children, aged 5, 7, 9, and 11. When Valdivia's wife abandoned them to reportedly start a new family, life became even more difficult. As the children struggled with the loss of their mother, Valdivia struggled with the loss of a partner in raising them. Overnight he became their sole provider, financially and emotionally. And without any other family around, he is doing it all completely on his own. But he is determined to do the best for his children."They don't deserve to suffer or cry," he told a local news outlet that covered his story for a Father's Day special. Despite constantly worrying about his children and his finances, he works hard to maintain a positive attitude and to provide stability and security for his kids. All while making certain that he is there for his children.Balancing Parenthood and WorkAs any parent knows, juggling work and parenting responsibilities is no easy feat. Valdivia works in construction but he prefers to take on his own jobs rather than work for an employer.This allows him the freedom to set his own hours and to be there to get his kids off to school."My children start school at 7:45, I take them and I can just go to work. For this reason, I cannot work from 7 in the morning as they normally do on construction sites. I look for my own little jobs so as not to harm anyone and they do not claim that I am late or work fewer hours," he said. While working and taking care of his kids, Valdivia is also saving up to buy a house. He currently resides at a friend's house but he dreams of having a "proper home" one day. His dream may soon become a reality, thanks to the power of the media. Word of a Father’s Sacrifice SpreadsAfter Valdivia was featured on the Arequipa news, residents of his local town set up a fund and started donating money. Inspired by his devotion to his children, many view him as a "hero."Valdivia, however, doesn't see himself as a hero. He sees himself as a father. One who will do whatever it takes for the sake of his children. "I give everything I can and have. I will always stand up for my children. I am there to care for them and love them; they are also my greatest strength," he said.And it is that strength that will carry this family through.Because despite the odds stacked against him, despite his wife's abandonment, living in poverty, and the challenge of raising his four children alone, Valdivia wields a weapon greater than all of the adversity. The power of a parent's love for their child. And there is no greater force on earth than that.More from Goalcast:Parents Abandon Baby at Hospital After Being “Horrified” by His Face – Then One Woman Takes Him in as Her OwnWoman Abandons Her Baby at Her Boyfriend’s House – He Decides to Raise the Kid Even if He Isn’t the FatherParents Refuse to Take Newborn Baby Home With Them and Abandon Him at Hospital – One Nurse Takes Him in as Her Own

People Are Saying LeBron James Is a Bad Father - Here's Why They're Wrong
Family

People Are Saying LeBron James Is a Bad Father - Here's Why They're Wrong

LeBron James's son, 18-year-old Bronny, suffered a cardiac arrest yesterday while on court during a USC Basketball workout. The eldest son of the basketball legend is now out of the ICU and in "stable condition."After previously being called out as a bad father for certain behaviour, LeBron sets the record straight. LeBron has always been a central figure in his family and it's time to take a look at the amazing father he really is.*This article was originally published on July 15, 2021.Shame if you do, shame if you don’t. That’s a lesson LeBron James learned the hard way following a momentous occasion involving his young son Bronny. The demanding, judgmental nature of social media has become so intimidating over the last couple of years that public figures can’t make a single move without explaining their decision-making. They’re staring down the barrel of targeted vilification and censure at every waking moment, and if they’re not able to justify their actions well ahead of time, they’re in trouble. It only takes one ill-timed rumor to topple your entire career and tarnish your reputation. LeBron had to reckon with similarly misguided assumptions over two years ago when he attended his son’s basketball tournament. What was supposed to be a celebratory affair among the James family quickly turned into a contentious ruckus casting doubt on LeBron’s integrity and capabilities as a father. Here’s how the situation unfolded and why LeBron became labeled as a ‘bad father.'LeBron received flak for making a “spectacle” out of himself at his son’s basketball gameIn July 2019, LeBron accompanied his 14-year-old son, LeBron Raymone "Bronny" James Jr., to an AAU basketball tournament in Las Vegas. It’s nothing short of a miraculous stroke of luck to have LeBron James himself spectating a basketball game. As anticipated, people were curious to see how LeBron would conduct himself on the sidelines and comport himself at a basketball meetup that didn’t feature him as the MVP. Well, the Ohio native didn’t disappoint. He donned his kicks and jumped into the pre-game layup lines to shoot some hoops. His incredible throwdowns — captured vividly on camera — galvanized the crowd and gave them something to be fired up over. It’s not every day that you have LeBron James participate in a warmup routine at a youth basketball matchup, so if you’re fortunate enough to see the man in action, savor the moment. Unfortunately, savor, they did not. The video went viral and caused quite a stir across traditional news and social media, eliciting accusations of ‘showboating’ on LeBron’s part. Many critics lambasted his activities on the court, condemning the basketball star for engaging in what they deem as undignified and inappropriate behavior. They also took issue with his loud cheering, especially his ballistic demeanor in the wake of his son’s game-winning slam dunk. According to The Washington Post, Jason Whitlock, the host of Fox Sports 1′s “Speak for Yourself” segmented, voiced his opinion on LeBron’s layups, saying that the Lakers’ champion should be staying in his own lane and not make a “spectacle” of himself. He alleges that LeBron leveraged his son’s moment in the sun to build his “social media brand.” The commentator told his followers that parents shouldn’t “allow their thirst for fame to distract from or exaggerate their child’s performance.”Barring an extraordinary leap of rationale on Whitlock’s part, it’s futile to expect a personality as animated and expressive as LeBron to suppress his natural energy. Besides, live sports can instigate a wide range of emotions in the most stoic of individuals, so there’s nothing wrong with LeBron boldly enlivening the mood and egging his son on. He reveals the tragic reason he’s so involved in his children’s livesWhat LeBron’s detractors don’t realize is that there’s a particular reason why the athlete prefers to take such a hands-on approach to parenthood. His dad had a number of criminal charges to his name and wasn’t in the picture, causing LeBron to grow up feeling helplessly incomplete and resentful. The absence of a solid paternal figure hurt him deeply, so he promised himself that he wouldn’t dare put his own children through the same ordeal. I wanted to have kids early, to prove to my father that the way you did it was the absolute wrong way to do it, and I wanted to break the mold to where I want to be there and give them all the life skills. LeBron James on UNINTERRUPTED The 36-year-old essentially took an oath to do right by his children and support them however he could. That’s partly why he wanted his eldest to bear his own name; it was about conferring respect and passing on the values that matter to him a great deal. He obviously can’t guarantee that his children would follow the exact path he’s envisioned for them, but he can hope that they’ll be able to appreciate the “life skills” he’s trying to instill in them. LeBron will do his best to ensure his kids are able to “experience things that [he] didn’t experience” and that they’re able to seize the opportunities by the horns and succeed in whichever field they decide to pursue. LeBron admits that he can only give them the “blueprint” and lay the groundwork; “it’s up to them to take their own course, whenever that time comes.”Setting a positive example for his children isn’t just about breaking the mold that’d been put in place by his dad. LeBron legitimately believes that the responsibilities associated with fatherhood allow him to flourish as a ballplayer. For example, he described each of his children as having distinct, divergent personalities that he must cater to in his unique ways; similarly, he must adjust his mode of communication when interacting with his teammates to get the best out of them. When I talk about patience, it comes back to being a father [...] It comes back to that patience of learning their mindsets, learning how you can get the most out of them, what triggers them to be their best, and what triggers them to not be their best. You learn that over time.LeBron James on The Tim Ferriss ShowThe expression of love is as unique as the love itselfA parent’s love and pride is a rare thing to capture, so no parent should be ashamed for how they choose to convey their depth of love and admiration for their children’s accomplishments. As long as you’re respectful of others in your space and that the recipient of your love is in agreement, you should feel free to express your love however you please. More importantly, your way will be unique to you; it doesn’t matter how it stacks up against someone else’s behavior. Embrace your peculiarities and instincts, and the rest will work itself out. More inspiring stories:LeBron James and Savannah Brinson Grew From High School Sweethearts to Lifelong Partners5 Life-Changing Books That Inspired LeBron James to Keep WinningOctavia Spencer Reveals LeBron James Helped Her Negotiate What ‘She Deserves’ for Her Upcoming Netflix SeriesThe Empowering Truth Behind John Cena and Dwayne Johnson’s Feud

Ungrateful Daughter Throws Moms Gift in the Trash - So She Decides to Teach Her a Harsh Lesson
Family

Ungrateful Daughter Throws Moms Gift in the Trash - So She Decides to Teach Her a Harsh Lesson

Florida mom Haley Hassell noticed that her 6-year-old daughter, Presleigh, was nervous since starting first grade. So as good moms do, she tried to make her feel better and thought she had the perfect remedy.Daughter Throws Mom’s Gift in the TrashPresleigh was asking for a LOL-brand pencil box, like the one other kids had in her class, so Haley decided to pick one up when she was out shopping for school supplies. Finally, after three stores she bought one as a surprise.But she didn't get the reaction she expected."Presleigh learned a tough love lesson today," the mom wrote in a 2019 Facebook post. "I went to 3 different stores to get that LOL pencil box you see in the trash there. When I surprised her with it this afternoon (just knowing she would be ecstatic) she stared at it and threw it in the trash and slammed the bedroom door. She yelled 'that’s stupid, everyone in my class has that..I don’t want it anymore!' ..WHHHHAT STOP COME AGAIN?"Transforming Anger Into a Valuable LessonHaley was shocked by her daughters response. "So by this time there was probably smoke coming out of my ears and I’m trying real hard not to completely lose it on this kid that I have worked so hard to completely take care of financially on my own & make sure she always gets what she needs and then some," she wrote. "BUT I thought I had always taught her to be grateful & know how lucky she was but apparently sis needed a small wake up call!!"So, Haley got creative."SO before completely going Madea mad on my child I check myself and say, 'Okay that’s fine, let me go get the one you’re going to use'...came back with her new pencil box, which is the Ziploc bag."As to be expected, the 6-year-old didn't like the Ziploc pencil box very much."She lost her mind! Suddenly the LOL Box she just trashed was good enough and the Ziploc bag was horrible...but it’s too late for all that." Instead of caving into her daughter's disappointment, the mom transformed the dramatic situation into a learning lesson about helping others."I told her to get the LOL out of the trash and we would be finding a child to give it to tomorrow..one whose mommy and daddies don’t have money for any school supplies or someone who may not even have a mommy or daddy," Haley wrote. "I explained to her she’s not entitled to anything special and she is taking for granted how lucky she is... So for now she will be using a Ziploc bag & will personally be delivering the nice box to a child that could benefit from it."Haley concluded the post with a valuable lesson about gratitude."Maybe I overreact sometimes but I would’ve done anything to have all the things she does as a child. I truly believe changing your perception & just being grateful can turn around any situation in life."Teaching the Importance of GratitudeThe mom's post has since earned more than 135,000 reactions and she was interviewed on Good Morning America. She got a lot of positive feedback, but also faced some criticism. "I got personal messages in my inbox saying that I was a monster mother ... they were saying I was a bad parent and bad parents raise bad children," she told GMA. "I was just on a rant when I wrote it. I didn't think people were going to share it. People were saying I was publicly shaming my daughter, which I don't really agree with."The pencil case story has a happy ending. Presleigh ended up mailing it to a 5-year-old girl in Utah as well as some other school supplies."Presleigh thought that was really cool. She understood once we were shopping for other children," Haley said, adding that it gave Presleigh "perspective.""Having a positive outlook can make or break you in life -- I want her to know that," she added. "Nothing is going to be easy, but when something is given to you, you've got to be grateful."It’s Always Good to Be GratefulMoney doesn't grow on trees. So it was understandable that this mom was upset when her daughter didn't want the gift she worked so hard to get. But instead of getting angry, as many of us would be, this mom did something far more constructive. She punished her daughter while at the same time showing her the importance of both giving and gratitude. And those are lessons we all need to be reminded of at any age.More from Goalcast:Two 11-Year-Olds Are Caught in the Act – “Lawnmower Man” Gifts Them New Equipment to Start a BusinessBullied Boy Loses Hope After a Priceless Gift From His Grandmother Is Stolen – But His Best Friends Feel OtherwiseAlways be grateful for the little things “Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.” – Amy Collette

6 Siblings Were Separated in Foster Care For Over 3 Years - Then 2 Dads Adopted Them All
Family

6 Siblings Were Separated in Foster Care For Over 3 Years - Then 2 Dads Adopted Them All

Life just got a WHOLE lot busier for Daniel and Dustin Johnson.The Florida couple, married in 2020, always knew they wanted kids. Ruling out surrogacy, they immediately began attending pre-adoption classes. From the start, they made it clear to the adoption agency that they were open to older children and sibling groups, which are typically much more difficult to place. "Daniel and I kind of made the joke that we could fit six in the back of our Suburban," Dustin Johnson told GMA. "The next month, in December, our adoption specialist reached out and said, 'How serious are you about that six number?'"Turns out they were pretty serious. They went from a family of two to a family of eight, literally overnight, adopting six siblings who were living in five separate foster homes.As for that Suburban? They've traded it in for a 15-passenger van. The Rocky Road to AdoptionAsk any parent and they'll tell you that becoming a parent isn't easy. The road is often paved with challenges. But for Dustin and Daniel, their road was littered with land mines.All six brothers and sisters, ranging in age from 3 to 11, had never had the chance to live together. While foster care provides necessary care and support, it is difficult to keep large families together.For over three years, they were bounced around from foster home to foster home. By the time Dustin and Daniel appeared on the scene, the siblings were living in 5 separate homes. “One of the kids had over 25 different placements,” Dustin told Today. Obviously, they didn't come alone. They brought a lot of baggage with them, including night terrors and post-traumatic stress disorder from exposure to domestic violence and drug abuse. But Daniel and Dustin knew they could handle it. Giving up on these kids was never an option.At first, the couple struggled to bond with their eldest daughter Amiyah. She believed her biological mother would return for her and she may be betraying her mother by bonding with them.“When they first moved in, they were completely withdrawn and had major trust issues,” Dustin recalls. “It took months and months to build up that trust. Then the light started coming in."And while the kids adjusted to their new life together, the state still needed some convincing. "There were a lot of 'what ifs,'" said Jennifer Robinson, an attorney with Bay Area Legal Services. "What if it doesn't work, we're taking a child away from what's stable to put him with his siblings but what if it falls apart and we cause more trauma?" But family won out in the end. Adoption Day and Finding Their Forever FamilyFinally, all the stars aligned and in May, they started their forever. Together. The Johnsons officially adopted the six siblings: Reid, 11, Amiyah, 10, Izayah, 9, Kaelix, 7, Cade, 6, and Roslin, 3. And today? The kids are doing amazing. Thanks to weekly therapy appointments and two incredibly loving dads, they're all excelling in school and (mostly) loving being together."Maia had to realize that boys are really stinky and Isaiah really struggled the most with a 2-year-old sister that broke up his LEGO sets," Dustin said. "So they did have some quirks of learning that siblings are all over the place sometimes but they were all really happy to be together."Dustin and Daniel are really happy too, living their dream of parenthood.For other men considering becoming first-time dads through adoption, Dustin's advice is simple: "Do it.""There’s a huge need in every community for foster kids that need homes," Dustin said. "So if I can say anything, it's to advocate for people to do it."He's not wrong. According to the latest statistics, there are currently an estimated 391,000 children in foster care in the United States.By adopting these six kids, Daniel and Dustin have not only provided them with a safe and loving home but they have also demonstrated the profound impact that a committed and caring family can have on a child's life.An impact that will shape not only their present but their future as well.More from Goalcast:18-Year-Old Single Mom Gives Up Son for Adoption – 58 Years Later, an Unlikely Source Brings Them Together“Our Family Is Complete”: Connecticut Teacher Adopts Student With Complex Medical Needs