Adult son's friends thought they were just catching up — until his dad made them feel like kids again

For some, childhood is just a memory that fades as they grow up, while others embrace it fully, never letting go of their inner child. An integral part of childhood is toys, and there’s no end to the joy that comes with collecting them. This dad did something similar. To keep his son and his friends' childhood alive, he made sure everyone had toys. During a family outing, when artist and designer Johnny Haiki—who goes by @johnnyhaiki on Instagram—was just about to bid farewell to his buddies, his loving father surprised them with something they had not expected. His friends were excited to see Haiki’s parents, but little did they know that something special was planned for them.

The video showed the dad handing over toys to the boys who were about to turn 30 soon. Yes, you read that right. It’s not a story or a scene from a movie but a real-life incident that unfolded at what seemed like a restaurant with intricate wooden décor, paper lanterns, and a serene ambiance. The family and friends had all gathered there to spend some quality time together. But their meeting, which appeared to have been well-planned in advance, took a surprising turn when Haiki’s dad came up with some cool and expensive-looking figurines. The heartfelt exchange brought a smile to the friends of the content creator, as seen in the 20-second clip.

“(My dad) still thinks we are kids,” Haiki wrote in the caption. Additionally, the captions aptly reflected his unique bond with his mom and dad, who were equally excited to present the “Transformers” action figure. “This is classic,” one of Haiki’s friends was heard saying after receiving the gift, inspired by the popular animation show. In response, Haiki’s father confirmed it, stating that it was the popular figurine’s “Legacy” edition. “This is the exclusive version,” the cheered-up dad said while pointing to the toy from the “Transformers” robotic collection.

Notably, a similar-looking figurine was available on the toy manufacturer Hasbro Pulse for $54.99. Meanwhile, Haiki’s friends were thrilled to receive the present, as it brought back childhood nostalgia and countless memories. While thanking the father, they shook hands with him and expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the thoughtful gesture. As their dinner ended on a positive note, Haiki shared the endearing moment online with the text overlay: “My dad's green flag is that he still gives my friends toys even though we're about to turn 30.”

The heartwarming video garnered over 854k views and 68k likes since it was first posted on January 28, 2025. Among the countless reactions it received, @ooyen lauded, “He's the parent that heard his kids like apples and has not stopped buying apples for them since 2005. What a blessing to have him in your lives.” “Giving a man a toy really is the best feeling,” @so_eliza expressed. “I’m 35 and still like giving toys. Humans don’t grow up, we just get hit with responsibilities,” @ivan_enrique echoed similar sentiments.

You can follow Johnny Haiki (@johnnyhaiki) on Instagram for more lifestyle content.