Close Ad

Parenting

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

Unemployed Dad Repackages Soup Kitchen Meals in Panera Bread Bags for This Tearjerking Reason
Parenting

Unemployed Dad Repackages Soup Kitchen Meals in Panera Bread Bags for This Tearjerking Reason

*Featured image contains photo by Julia M Cameron and Katia Damyan As a parent, you want nothing more than to shield your kids when bad things happen and sometimes, you'll go to great lengths to make sure their innocence is protected. So, when one dad lost his job during the pandemic (alongside nearly 255 million other people worldwide), he did what he had to do to make sure his kids were blissfully unaware of just how desperate times had become. The Lengths One Dad Went to in Order to Preserve His Children’s InnocencePhoto by Mikhail NilovDesperate times call for desperate measures and for this anonymous dad that meant having to turn to his local soup kitchen to help put food on the table. And while it took a lot of courage to ask for help, he didn't want his children to worry. To conceal the harsh reality of their situation he decided to engage in some seriously ingenious bait-and-switch maneuvers. Instead of letting his kids know where the bacon actually came from, he cleverly repackaged it into their favorite restaurant to-go bag before bringing it home. Because when it comes to kids and dinner? There's nothing more exciting than take-out (okay fine, for adults too).The soup kitchen volunteer who witnessed the tearjerking act shared about it recently in a video on TikTok. And while the clip may only be 6 seconds long, I guarantee you'll be thinking about it for a long time to come. “Thinking about when I worked at a soup kitchen during Covid and a man who lost his job would come by and pack the food we gave him into a Panera Bread bag so his kids were excited thinking they were eating restaurant food every night,” Amber Mirrelle wrote in the text overlay. "I hope him and his family are doing alright," she added.How a Simple Act of Love Made a Significant ImpactIn the midst of just trying to survive, all this dad could think about was making certain that his kids had literally no idea. With one small gesture, he turned what could have been scary and sad into something exciting. It wasn't just about putting dinner on the table; it was about preserving a sense of normalcy and shielding his kids from unnecessary worry. It was about ensuring that they felt safe and secure during a time that screamed anything but. And people are having a lot of emotions. The TikTok video has gone viral with a whopping 3.3 million views in just a few days. Commenters were deeply moved by the dad's actions. "The things people do to protect their children. I bet he thinks about you too. ❤️," wrote one."You know that was a core moment for them dad brought Panera bread every day 🥹," wrote another."That is king behavior. Shield the babies from pain and stresses. Provide even if you gotta ask for help. Hope he is doing well!"Other commenters shared similar experiences with their own parents."My dad would go to thrift stores to buy toys and would put them in Target bags to act like he bought them there 😭.""Reminds me of when I got all dollar store gifts for Christmas. My dad told me later. It's still a core Christmas memory. All those gifts. 🥰"Millions of Families Are Struggling With Food InsecurityWhile this happened during COVID-19, the reality is that things haven't gotten better. In fact, thanks to skyrocketing inflation and massive sticker shock in the grocery stores and at the gas pump, more and more people are struggling to make ends meet. Local food banks, soup kitchens, and hunger relief programs feed more than 49 million people every year in the United States alone. That's one out of every six people. And as the cost of living increases, so do the statistics.Donating money, nonperishable food, or even just your time, to food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens in your local area or neighborhood can go a long way in helping people who need it most. More from Goalcast:Unemployed Man Searches for Stranger Who Returned His $273M Lotto Ticket — and Hopes to Share His EarningsUnemployed Father Struggles to Provide for His Family – So He Started Working on the StreetSteve Harvey Was So Moved by an Unemployed Audience Member’s Struggle – So He Decides to Change His Life

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

Firefighter Delivers Baby Then Learns Her Mom Cant Keep Her - So He Adopts Her and Gives Her a Home
Everyday Heroes

Firefighter Delivers Baby Then Learns Her Mom Cant Keep Her - So He Adopts Her and Gives Her a Home

Firefighters save lives every day -- it’s their job. But then they move on to the next job and rarely know what ends up happening to the people they rescue. Except in this case, where the firefighter rescued a baby and then decided to adopt her. Marc Hadden is a member of the fire department in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and on November 14, 2011, he had an unusual day at the office -- rather than fighting a fire, he ended up delivering a baby for the very first time.An Unusual 911 CallPhoto by RDNE Stock projectThe baby's birth mother had called 911 complaining of abdominal pain, and Hadden ended up at the scene.“She struggled from the minute she was put in my hands,” said Marc in an interview with PEOPLE. Marc had to give the baby emergency oxygen just seconds after she was born to help her breathe on her own. “It was amazing to hear her cry.”Marc HaddenBut soon after, at the hospital, the birth mother said she couldn’t care for her daughter -- and Marc immediately wanted to be the one to step up to take care of her.Welcoming Rebecca Grace Into the FamilyJust two days later, that baby ended up coming home with him and his wife. They named her Rebecca Grace.Marc and his wife Beth already had two sons and really wanted a third child, but had experienced some complications while trying to conceive. They were already on the road to adoption when they met baby Rebecca.Beth said she knew it was meant to be as soon as Marc called her with the news of his day at work. “I delivered a baby.”“Can we keep her?” she had replied. Beth had been half-kidding, but then Marc gave her the news. “I think she might be going up for adoption.”Sometimes the Best Things Happen in the Blink of an EyePhoto by Laura GarciaBeth visited the birth mom at the hospital the very next day.“My heart just went out to this woman,” said Beth. “I brought her a little prayer book and asked if I could get anything for her.”While the women were talking, a doctor came into the room and said they were ready to proceed with adoption, and then the birth mom turned to Beth, "I can’t give my baby to someone I’ve never met."That was the moment of opportunity. “I want you to adopt my baby,” the woman said, looking at Beth, and then the nurse brought the baby in and Beth got to hold her for the first time.“She is what we prayed for,” says Beth. “It felt like winning the lottery.”Now Gracie is a member of the family, and Beth and Marc have been honest with her about how she came into their lives. "I’ve taken her to the back of the ambulance where she was born, so she knows!” says Marc.Beth and Marc remain grateful and in awe. "Sometimes the best things in life happen in the blink of an eye — and you can’t let them pass you by,” said Beth.More from Goalcast:Waitress Hands Exhausted Firefighters a Note After Paying for Their Meal – Little Did She Know What Was Going to HappenWoman Leaves Her Newborn Baby Girl in a Drop Box – The Firefighter Who Found Her Just Became Her DadFirefighter Meets the Son of a Man He Rescued From a Fire 23 Years Ago in an Emotional Reunion

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

Couple Who Wanted to Give Their Only Child More Siblings Ends Up Having Quadruplets TWO SETS of Identical Twins
Family

Couple Who Wanted to Give Their Only Child More Siblings Ends Up Having Quadruplets TWO SETS of Identical Twins

Hannah and Michael Carmack got the surprise of a lifetime when, during a routine ultrasound, they found out they were having not one, not two, not three, but FOUR babies.Surprise!The Alabama couple, already parents to an 8-year-old daughter, had decided to try for one more...but things didn't exactly go as planned.Instead of one more, they ended up with four more — two sets of identical twins. And their family of three is now officially a party of seven.And Then There Were...FOUR??Courtesy Michael Carmack (via: TODAY.com)Hannah and Micheal received the news about their multiple bundles of joy during their first ultrasound. In an interview with Today, Micheal shared that Hannah knew something was up before he did. A veterinary technician, the mom-to-be noticed two sacs on the screen instead of one. She immediately asked the ultrasound tech, "Is it twins?" When the tech didn't respond, she asked, "Is it three?" At this point the tech placed a hand on her knee and broke the news gently, telling her "Sweetie, it’s four." "I had to convince Hannah it was a good idea to have a second child," Michael said. "Imagine how she reacted when she found out we were having four!"Imagine.Michael, who always wanted a large family, started to laugh. Hannah started to cry. (Who can blame her? I'd be crying too.)Michael immediately called in reinforcements. He scheduled an emergency meeting with their church pastor. "He thought we were getting divorced," Michael joked. Although, this doesn't seem to be outside the realm of possibility given that his wife just found out that he got her pregnant - WITH QUADRUPLETS. Nevertheless, they weren't getting divorced and Hannah left the meeting with a newfound realization. “What I think Hannah came to realize is, ‘This is not normal. We had been chosen for something by God,” Michael said. What Are the Odds of Having Two Sets of Identical Twins? Having spontaneous quadruplets is extremely rare. Having them as two sets of identical twins? Even rarer. According to the CDC, there were only 148 quadruplets or higher-order births in the U.S.A. in 2021 (the most recent data). Most of these, however, were a result of assisted reproduction techniques such as in-vitro fertilization or fertility-enhancing drugs.This was not the case for the Carmacks. Their quadruplets were spontaneous — meaning they were conceived without the help of fertility treatments.Dr. Kecia Gaither, an OB-GYN, told Insider that the chances of spontaneous quadruplets fall somewhere between 1 in 700,000 and 1 in 1 million. It occurs when multiple eggs are released or when eggs split, as with the Carmacks.Some estimates put the odds of having two sets of identical twins at 1 in 70 million. Party of Seven Hannah Carmack/GoFundMeOn March 14, Hannah, 29, gave birth via cesarean section to two sets of identical twins: girls, Evelyn and Adeline, and boys, David and Daniel. The babies were born premature, at only 27 weeks and 3 days gestation. The smallest, Adeline, weighed 1 pound, 10.5 ounces. The largest, Evelyn, weighed in at 2 pounds, 9 ounces. According to Dad, all four are doing well and are breathing on their own. They are expected to remain at the UAB Women and Infants Center in Birmingham until June.In the meantime, the proud parents visit them daily and are working on renovating their home to make room for the Carmack Quads. They've set up a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $20,000 to help cover some of the renovation costs (and diapers, no doubt).As for how their 8-year-old is feeling about being a big sister to four? "She's super excited," Michael told news affiliate WAFF 48. "She wanted all four of them to sleep in her room." Having quadruplets may not have been the plan, but now that they're here, their parents are thrilled with their little miracles. In a Facebook post, Hannah writes:"I can’t always say that it feels real to me that I’m a mother of four quadruplet babies, but when I get to hold all of them at the same time…it becomes very real that I am not dreaming..but that this is real life and it’s simply extraordinary."Extraordinary indeed.

She Was Worth the Wait: Family Welcomes the First Baby Girl in Over a Century
Family

She Was Worth the Wait: Family Welcomes the First Baby Girl in Over a Century

When it comes to having a baby girl the odds are usually 50-50. Unless you're a part of this Michigan family. Then, the odds are about 1 in a million (give or take).For over a century, the Clark family has only welcomed boys. The last time a baby girl was born into the family was 138 years ago.That is, until now.The Gender Reveal PartyAndrew & Carolyn Clark|FacebookAndrew Clark comes from a long line of male-dominated births, dating back to his great-great-grandfather. So when he started dating his now-wife, Carolyn, he warned her about the long-standing tradition, telling her, "Oh, we don't have girls. Legitimately, we have not had a girl in our direct line in over 100 years."Challenge accepted.With the odds stacked against her the size of Mount Everest, Carolyn was determined to end the daughter drought.Not surprisingly, their first child was a boy, Cameron, who is now 4 years old. After suffering a miscarriage, the couple learned they were expecting again. "We honestly didn't care if we were having a boy or girl at this point," Carolyn told GMA. "We just were thankful to be pregnant and just praying for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby."RELATED: Parents Refuse to Take Newborn Baby Home With Them and Abandon Him at Hospital – One Nurse Takes Him in as Her OwnIn September, family and friends gathered together for a gender reveal party. They were each given a cookie containing either blue or pink frosting. Everyone assumed it would be blue. It wasn't. It was pink. The Clarks were finally having a girl.The response to the baby news? Shock and awe. And a whole lot of jumping and screaming."We kept it a secret to ourselves as well. So I just assumed it was going to be blue in the center of the cookies and it'd be another boy in the lineage," Andrew shared. "I was shocked. I think I just stared at the center of that cookie like, it's really pink. So it was a good surprise for us."Birth of Baby Girl Breaks a Century-Long TraditionPhoto by RODNAE ProductionsEven with confirmation from their doctor, the Clarks still couldn't quite believe their luck. Throughout the pregnancy, they were plagued with doubts. “I think every ultrasound she was like, 'Double check that it's a girl. I don't believe in it,'" Andrew said.Well, turns out, it was a girl. Audrey Marie Clark was born on March 17 — St. Patrick's Day — with the luck of the Irish clearly on her side.Weighing in at 6 pounds 8 ounces, Audrey is a healthy bundle of joy and the family couldn't be more thrilled.“It was just joy, you know, just that she was here and healthy," said Carolyn. “It made it even more special that it was a girl because it was like, you were worth the wait and all the struggles.”What Are the Odds? While the Clarks are certainly an anomaly, the scales are actually slightly tipped in favor of having a boy, according to science.The World Health Organization reports that there is a 51% chance of having a boy and a 49% chance of having a girl.Researchers from Newcastle University in England believe that this might be due to a gene that controls the balance of X- and Y-carrying sperm. After studying more than 927 family trees dating back to the 1600s, they discovered that the sex ratio for families followed the father's side, not the mother's side. RELATED: Compassionate 12-Year-Old Girl Irons Together Old Bags of Chips to Provide Blankets for the Homeless"Men inherit a tendency to have more sons or more daughters from their parents. This means that a man with many brothers is more likely to have sons, while a man with many sisters is more likely to have daughters."In other words, it's all in the father's genes. Men carrying a gene that leads to their sperm having more Y chromosomes have more sons.It seems to be the case in the Clark family.Boy or girl, the Clarks, like all parents, are just happy to have a healthy baby. The fact that they were the ones to finally break the 138-year streak is "icing on the cake." But even so, they may want to start buying lottery tickets. Seems the odds are in their favor.

Angry Mother Fights Back Against School After Her Daughter Is Sent Home for Wearing Tight Pants
Parenting

Angry Mother Fights Back Against School After Her Daughter Is Sent Home for Wearing Tight Pants

Traci Hull of Indiana was at work when she received an email that knocked her off her chair. It was from her 12-year-old daughter Morgan's school. Per the Daily Mail, they said that she was given an 'internal suspension' for violating the school dress code. Her attire offense? Wearing stretchy pants.Yet per the school's email, Morgan was only supposed to get a warning. To make matters worse, when she took Morgan to school the next day, she was again sent home due to her pants. That was enough motivation to cause this mother to come undone and take action.One Mother’s Outrage at Her Daughter Missing School for an OutfitHull stormed ​​Franklin Township Middle school and asked to speak with leadership. There, she met the assistant principal, who said again that her daughter’s pants were too tight and couldn’t attend class.What bothered Hull the most is that her daughter is missing class. She said: "She is behind in school and we are spending now two days focused on pants that are too tight. It is unfathomable to me that there is this big of an issue on her dress code and not her education"RELATED: Daughter Falls Off Skateboard – The Brilliant Way Her Dad Reacted Should Be a Lesson for All ParentsHull later tried but was unable to get a sit down with the superintendent.However, one of the employees who worked at the school said that Morgan's outfit was just fine, and said that the whole case would be reviewed. In a statement released after, Dr. Flora Reichanadter, school superintendent, cited keeping a ‘safe’ environment in enforcing the dress code. "There are and will be times in which some styles of clothing are not appropriate or conducive to the school environment and should be kept as an option outside of school," she said. How One Mother Proved That a Child’s Education Should Matter MostTraci added that Morgan had been wearing the same pants all year - and had success with her studies - and that it had only recently become an issue. She'll look for pants that conform to the code as it all gets sorted out. Yet, she added that it's easier said than done. "She is extremely petite, so trying to find clothes that fit her is difficult. I just don't think it's appropriate to send her to school in sweatpants. It's dumbfounding, I just don't get it," she said. RELATED: Single Mom Expects 6-Year-Old Son to Do Household Chores – The Reason Why Is a Lesson for All ParentsWe've yet to see a news story about a school under threat from a surge in tight pants. What we do see on the rise are students who are deprived of their education due to rigid uniform policies like this and other cases. Some might call this a case of a mother overreacting, yet the stats say otherwise. Per one study, the poverty rate for high school dropouts is more than twice those that get their degree.That's not saying that a girl's future is at risk from a pair of stretchy pants. However, we can all agree that it's hard enough to keep kids engaged in school. Maybe, as one mother is saying, we should worry more that their butts are in classes instead of the right-fit pants. Now that's among the smart goals we should all get behind. KEEP READING:The Real Reason Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Live Separately is a Wholesome Take On Parenting

Mariah Carey's Parents: How the Pop Star's Neglected Childhood Shaped Her Life
Family

Mariah Carey's Parents: How the Pop Star's Neglected Childhood Shaped Her Life

Mariah Carey has been a phenomenal songstress since the early 1990s, when she took the world by storm with her unshakeable voice and astounding range. But while she has attracted extensive media attention over the years for her romantic relationships and, of course, her music, it's only recently that Mariah Carey opened up more about her parents.RELATED: At Her Lowest Point, Mariah Carey Turned Vulnerability Into StrengthLike many of us, no matter how much time has passed since childhood, Mariah, now 52 years old, continues to navigate her deeply challenging relationship with her parents. Who Are Mariah Carey’s Parents?Mariah was born in 1970 in Huntington, New York, the third and youngest child of parents Alfred Roy Carey and Patricia Hickey. Alfred was an aeronautical engineer of African-American and Afro-Venezuelan descent, and Patricia a former opera singer and vocal coach of Irish descent. Mariah's paternal grandfather actually changed his name from Nuñez to Carey, like many immigrants did to cope with the racism of the day.RELATED: Mariah Carey Reveals How She Found Herself After Escaping an Abusive RelationshipMariah Carey's parents met in 1960, a full decade before she was born, and fell in love, despite Patricia’s mother disowning her for the relationship. The couple faced the overt racism of the era -- they were even shot at through their kitchen window — but they nevertheless eloped. After they were married, they decided to live in an all-White neighborhood. However, Patricia had to purchase the house, because the White owners wouldn’t sell to a Black man. Concerned there were no other Black people around, they soon moved again, this time to a mixed neighborhood. However, there were new problems. “They didn’t like us because we were living as a Black and White couple, and that just wasn’t done,” Patricia recalled. Wherever the couple went, it seemed, people opposed their marriage.Mariah Carey's Sister and Brother Resented HerBut while the 1970s may have been more tolerant, even after Mariah was born, racial tensions remained high. Neighbors actually poisoned the family dog and set fire to their car. Although Mariah is comfortable today with her biracial background, the world hasn’t always shown her the same acceptance.Mariah Carey's parents divorced when she was only 3 years old. Her older sister, Alison, moved in with their father, while Mariah and her older brother, Morgan, stayed with their mother. She has recalled her siblings’ resentment toward her for having lighter skin and hair, and described her brother as “extremely violent” and her sister as “troubled” and “traumatized." Mariah has opened up about her difficult childhood, discussing how her siblings were abusive toward her. Mariah had little contact with her father after the split, and her mother worked several jobs to support the family.Behind Mariah's Toxic Relationship with Her MotherPatricia Carey in the music video for "O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus"To describe Mariah Carey's relationship with her mother as strained is an understatement. She has credited her mother as the primary reason for her exposure to music at a young age. However, she also maintains there were things her mother said that have haunted throughout the years. RELATED: What Drew Barrymore's Post-Divorce Celibacy Teaches Us About Love“Jealousy comes with the territory when you are famous. But when it comes from your own mother, it is very painful," Mariah wrote in 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey. She goes on to recall how her mother once said, “You should only hope that you could be half the singer that I am.” Although Mariah wondered if her mother even remembers saying that, it impacted her just the same. (Patricia actually performs on Mariah's 2010 song "O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus," and is featured prominently in the music video.)In addition to the jealous and competitive comments, Mariah has also opened up about how she felt neglected by her mother.“I’ll always take care of her,” she said. “There’s been a huge role reversal in our relationship since the beginning, since I first started [singing] I’ve been the go-to, that matriarch person, even as the youngest child in the family. Not everybody gets it. That’s a lot of pressure because also with that, with the expectations come resentment as well, or envy. It’s really a tough place to be.”Mariah's Complicated Relationship With Her Mom ContinuesMariah and Patricia, with Luciano Pavarotti (Photo: Instagram)Mariah admits she still craves a mom like those she used to see on television, one who will have “genuine, sustained interest” in her before asking for money or favors.To add insult to injury, Mariah's mom even cautioned her against marrying Nick Cannon (now father of her 9-year-old fraternal twins) because of his skin color. Clearly, trauma is inter-generational, and forgiving a parent for ongoing hurt can take a long time.RELATED: How Tom Hanks' Tragic Childhood Change Him - ForeverThe singer also revealed that, in 2001, amid pressures related to her impending movie, Glitter, she was physically and emotionally exhausted. She decided to spend some time recuperating at her mother’s Long Island home, which she had purchased. While there, she had an emotional breakdown while washing dishes. But rather than offering support, her mother called the police, who took her to a facility. “Bottom line is, there was a code-switching that happened and a power shift that was immediate,” Mariah explained. "It was immediate and she was in charge."Mariah's Father, Alfred, Passed Away in 2020This type of story will resonate with many of us who have parents stuck in traumatizing power-struggle patterns. It's not an easy thing to overcome.When it comes to Mariah’s relationship with her father, there’s not as much to say. She didn't see much of him as a child, and sadly, he passed away in 2002. Mariah does, however, feel positive enough about him to wish him happy Father’s Day on Instagram. “Rest in Power,” she wrote in June 2020. “Love and Sunflowers for Alfred Roy.”The Lessons Mariah Carey's Parents Taught HerMariah's late father, Alfred Carey (Photo: Instagram)The fact is, even those of us with the most traumatic parental relationships tend to find lessons buried in our trauma if we’re willing to dig a little.RELATED: Who Are Justin Bieber's Parents and What Did He Really Learn from Them?Of her relationship with her mother today, Mariah shares in her memoir: "I have reserved some room in my heart and life to hold her — but with boundaries. Creating boundaries with the woman who gave birth to me is not easy — it is a work in progress."In fact, the dedication of her books sums up the rocky past and still-challenging, but somehow worthwhile, present-day relationship very well: “And to Pat, my mother, who, through it all, I do believe actually did the best she could. I will love you the best I can, always.”Mariah's Lifelong Struggle with Her Biracial IdentityBut when it came to struggling with her biracial identity and belonging, neither of Mariah’s parents were ever equipped to help her navigate the complexity she faced. She was largely on her own.Mariah has discussed the lack of belonging she felt as a child that so many biracial people know all too well. When she first became famous, articles described her as a “White girl who can sing,” which really played into deep-seated insecurities. “My father identified as a Black man,” she said. “No one asked him because he was clearly Black. But people always ask me. If we were together, people would look at us in a really strange way. As a little girl, I had blonde hair and they’d look at me, look at him, and be disgusted. I understand people want to hold on to their roots. But for me, I was a complete nonentity because of it. Maybe that was part of my drive to succeed. I’ll become accepted.”How Mariah's Childhood Shapes Her MotherhoodPhoto: InstagramIn her memoir, Mariah writes, “Time and motherhood have finally given me the courage to honestly face who my mother has been to me.”RELATED: This Is The Real Reason Why You Never Hear About Justin Bieber’s DadGiven some of the unforgettable things her mother said to her when she was young, Mariah believes it’s important to be careful what one says, especially when talking to kids. The singer explained that, because she wants her own son and daughter, Monroe and Moroccan, to feel safe, secure and happy, she makes every effort to acknowledge their talents and encourage them, effectively breaking the cycle of damage and abuse her family has known all too well.Mariah hopes her own struggles with identity and racism will help her educate her kids on how to deal with similar issues. While times have changed since she was a kid, she points to social media, and all the modern ways someone can get attacked today.Mariah's Loving Relationship with Her ChildrenIn stark contrast to her own upbringing, Mariah’s relationship with her kids is the most loving relationship she’s ever known. “They help to heal me every day,” she said. “Every time we have a moment that feels real and authentic and genuine and it’s them loving me unconditionally.”While stereotypes of abused children turning into abusive parents run rampant, the children who grow up and break those vicious cycles tend to get a lot less press, but there’s plenty of us out there. The trick: even if your parents don’t teach you directly, you can learn eternal lessons from their behavior alone. KEEP READING: The Truth Behind Zoe Kravitz’ Relationship With Her Parents

One Mom Got Sick of Yelling for Her Kids - Her Genius Hack Now Helps Thousands of Parents Worldwide
Parenting

One Mom Got Sick of Yelling for Her Kids - Her Genius Hack Now Helps Thousands of Parents Worldwide

Shouting through the house to call your kids out of their bedrooms for dinner may be effective, but it sure feels annoying sometimes, especially when you have to repeat yourself. RELATED: This Simple Keychain Can Help Women Survive AssaultLaura Cuniff, a mom on TikTok, came up with a genius solution to this everyday dilemma – and it involves doorbells. Using Doorbells to Call Kids From Their RoomsCuniff, who posts under the username @inside_our_riverside on TikTok, shared a video showing her brilliant hack in action. She put doorbells inside one of her kitchen cupboards, and linked them to a different child's room. Now, instead of shouting, she presses the buttons to let the kids know that dinner is ready. It’s better for her vocal chords, but it's also helpful for one of her children with special needs. "I came up with the idea because our youngest son is autistic and very noise sensitive, so we were struggling to call the kids down without him grabbing his ears,” she told The Mirror. "We had an old doorbell from our previous house and we tried it out and it worked a treat so we put one in each of the three older children's rooms! It’s brilliant because the noise of the bell cuts through their headphones.” The TikTok video has resonated with thousands of parents who understand the pain of shouting through the house to get their kids to join for dinner. “I've done this and it works great. Less shouting and if they ignore, I just keep pressing until they appear,” wrote one commenter. “OMG!!! I have been racking my brain trying to figure something out. I’m so tired of screaming like a banshee!! Thank you!!!” added another TikTok user. Try the New Parenting Hack With the Avantek Doorbell KitCredit: Amazon.comReady to try this parenting hack yourself? The AVANTEK wireless doorbell kit is a great choice. It comes with a push button and two receivers that you can place in different rooms of the house. You can purchase additional receivers as needed. The ultra-long wireless range means that the doorbell will work even if you have a large home with multiple floors. The doorbell kit is easy to install. All you need is an electric socket for each receiver. The transmitter features a low-consumption lithium battery with a three-year maximum lifespan. It’s also waterproof, which is convenient if you’re going to be pressing the button while in the kitchen. Choose between 52 tunes and five volume levels or, even better, let your kids customize them based on their preferences. SEE IT: $29.99 at Amazon.comGoalcast may receive a portion of revenue if you click a link in this article and buy a service or product. The links are independently placed by our Commerce team and do not influence editorial content.