Dad explains how his parenting style changed forever once he discovered the 'Disney hug'

At some point, we’ve all noticed how moms and dads often have different ways of showing love to their kids. While moms tend to shower their children with warm hugs and frequent "I love yous," dads often take a quieter approach to expressing affection. Despite varying parenting styles, these tendencies remain common. But here's a heartwarming story that might change how we think about fathers and their ways of expressing emotions. Ben Cole-Edwards, a father and social media influencer who goes by @bencoleedwards on Instagram, shared his parenting journey and how discovering the famous "Disney Hug" transformed his relationship with his children.

Edwards began the video by sharing details about his children and how his parenting style differs from his father's. He said, "My parenting changed forever when I discovered the Disney hug. I have a 3-year-old, a 1-year-old and a 4-month-old. When I was a child, I was told, 'I can't hug you or kiss you or tell you I love you, Ben, because my mother never did.' This is an awful excuse, and people like you and I give love that we never experienced. So, I always do it at least twice an hour. I kiss my kids, hug my kids and tell them that I love them."

Edwards also spoke about how learning about "Disney Hug" has empowered him with the strength to provide more safety and love to his kids than ever. "But my parenting changed and I was able to give more safety and more love and affection to my kids when I discovered the Disney hug rule," he added. Sharing insights about the Disney-character-inspired hug rule, Edwards explained the principle all Disney characters follow. As per the rule, "If they are hugged by a child, they are not allowed to let go first. If a child comes up to them in the park and hugs them, they are not allowed to let go first."

Edwards was evidently so moved by the Disney hug rule that he incorporated the rule into his way of parenting. Hailing the rule, he added, "It's a rule that silently says, 'I am a safe place for you to share your love.' It also tells my kids that I have nothing else better to do than to give them my love back." The sweet video featured several adorable moments between Edwards and his three lovely kids. 

Edwards' video has received an overwhelming response from people in the comment section. @vanessaheberle wrote, "This is because Walt Disney once said something like, 'Never let go first of a hug from a child, because you never know how many of these children NEEDED that hug.'" @bordertowndaisy commented, "I never let go first! And sometimes my kiddos ask to 'let our hearts talk' as they hug me and smoosh their chest into mine." @jeremya.münzer shared, "My mom never hugged me. She started three years ago when my dad had a stroke. She is 63 I am 21. It was the strangest thing when she hugged me for the first time. I never felt that. Now every time we hug, she starts crying cause her parents never did that either. I never offer hugs and she never lets go first. She messed up badly and there is no excuse for all the awful things that happened, but she is trying by now."

You can follow Ben Cole-Edwards (@bencoleedwards) on Instagram for more lifestyle content.