Single dad left 'ugly crying' after learning why his 7-year-old was saving money for months

The internet is flooded with posts and videos about parents teaching their kids to save money and manage it better through innovative strategies, but sometimes children surprise them with thoughtful gestures when they are needed the most. A dad who goes by u/deleted on Reddit, shared a post describing how his 7-year-old saved up money so that he could go to Golden Corral with him. After starting by mentioning that he became a dad when he was 16, he wrote "I never expected having a kid that early and I don't know if I regret it or not. Almost all of my regrets washed away when my son was born."

He went on to say that his son, whom he called Rory, is the smartest and most loving kid. He then added, "His mom had left when he was around two. When I tried to sue for child support, the judge sided with her, quoting that I was the father and needed to step up. Ever since then, it has been me and Rory against the world." The 24-year-old then added how he left his parents' place and got a small apartment for him and his son. "I dropped out of high school, which I still immensely regret, but hey, life happens. During this time, my neighbors helped me raise my son. They were an older couple next door whose kids had moved out long before, so they were fine babysitting him after school, late shifts, etc.," he wrote.

The dad then described his struggle working as a manager at McDonald's and wrote, "I make lousy money, but it was enough to get by. Then, two years prior, our shi**y building manager raised the rent for everyone and I had to work even harder for a place to live during a pandemic. My parents had left the state and I wasn't ready to uproot my kid's entire life because his dad couldn't provide for him." He added that before his son turned 3, every birthday, he would take him to Golden Coral which he really enjoyed. However, he shared that he hadn't been able to do that for the past two years.

The man also mentioned that he always brought his tips home and gave them to his son. "Well, two days ago, Rory brings me his money jug and dumps it all out in front of me. He was so excited and began counting it out. There were around forty dollars there and he jumped up excitedly. I had asked him what's up, little buddy," the father recalled. "When I tell you guys my heart broke, my son asked me if it was enough to go to the Corral for his birthday. A piece of me shattered inside. I didn't think he remembered the Golden Corral." The dad assured him that they would go to the bank the next day and get it exchanged for cash. "That night, I ugly cried in my bedroom. I felt like a failure because I couldn't give him everything he's ever wanted. I've begun researching on furthering my education."

The 24-year-old kept his promise and took his son to the bank to get the money exchanged for cash. They then drove to Golden Corral and they were there for two hours. "My kid was so happy, and I was stupid because I just assumed he forgot this place. (We get the all-you-can-eat buffet for 2 for 30$)," he shared. "Today, I cried again in my room. I've never been good at saving money, but his birthday is next month and I'm gonna do my best to take him every few months," he added. He ended the post by asking for advice on how other parents deal with the guilt of saying no. 

u/cliffordc5 commented, "This is amazing. And if you can save $1 per day, that's $30 per month for Golden Corral. Put that money in a savings account so it doesn't get lumped in with your regular money. Most companies will actually let you split your paycheck and deposit some in checking and some in savings. That way, it's automatic and you don't even have to think about it!" u/felaguin wrote, "Believe it or not, you having to say 'no' today is probably one of the most valuable things for his upbringing. He's learning there are limits, life is not a wish factory. He's already learned the value of saving and he's learned to prioritize. You're doing a great job."

u/gerbal_annihilation shared, "My dad would take me to Golden Corral for my birthday when I was young. I don't remember all the bad things, but I definitely remember spending time with him at Golden Corral." u/unknownone3 said, "You are entitled to child support. Go to a legal clinic (usually, there are free consultations for low-income individuals). A mother has just as much of a responsibility to provide financially for the child as the father does."