Couple's heartfelt birthday ritual for their son celebrates his growth and strengthens their marriage

Birthdays are a celebration of life, honoring our journey and the milestones we've achieved along the way. For parents, these celebrations are even more precious as they watch their kids bloom with each passing year. From special meals to quirky traditions, family rituals turn birthdays into a joyful celebration of love and connection. One proud dad from the @dadchatchannel took to Instagram to share a meaningful birthday tradition he and his wife have for their son. This family custom not only celebrates their child's growth but also strengthens their marriage. What began as a simple birthday ritual has grown into a powerful bond of love and connection.

Every year, the content creator and his partner, Melissa, share a special moment on their son's birthday. Together, they sit down, sipping their son's favorite drink of the year and write letters to him—letters the couple plan to give their child on his 18th birthday. In each letter, they pour out their hopes for his future, reflect on how they have grown as parents and recall the moments they have shared over the past year. "It brings us closer to each other as we celebrate another year of parenthood," reads the text overlay. Beyond writing the letters, the couple also reads each other's letters while spending some quality time together. 

"On our son's 18th birthday, this will be one of the gifts we give him. That way, even when he moves out, he can have those letters to refer to so that he knows he's always been our priority," the beautiful video further reveals in the caption. Several people loved the idea and praised the couple for their thoughtful family tradition. @cmullins222 commented, "Love this idea! Take a photo of you at the table and put it in with the letter. They will see what you looked like every year on the night you celebrated and wrote to them." @heiley wrote, "My mom did this for me. I most definitely will be doing it for mine as well. I lost my dad when I was 1 1/2 and getting to read letters from when they were together is something I will get to hold onto for the rest of my life."

@carolineprice added, "We do this and also have a list of 20 questions we've been asking since her third birthday so she can see her answers (what do you want to be when you grow up, what's your favorite food, best friend, favorite color, etc)." @smokedoutcolton commented, "I wrote a letter to my son when we were in the delivery room as my wife was giving birth. I wrote through the moment I went from just a husband to a husband AND a dad." @jenaejordan dropped a hilarious comment and wrote, "Me wondering what you guys drank the night before his first birthday… formula or b****t milk." @g.larasand chimed in, "I wish I would have seen this 17 years ago!"

You can follow @dadchatchannel on Instagram for more wholesome parenting content.