Dad guides daughter through period anxiety — and dads everywhere should be taking notes

A short clip posted by Steven Swanson (@scubaykorea) on Instagram shows a father offering calm, supportive guidance to his daughter, who appears nervous after realizing she might be getting her period on the way to school. The video has gained over 11 million views and 997,000 likes so far, and opens with the daughter saying she doesn’t feel good and thinks she might need to use the bathroom. Moments later, she admits, "All I know is that I haven't had my period yet… and I’m wearing all white too."

Instead of reacting with discomfort or brushing it off, her father responds immediately and kindly, telling her, "It’s okay. If you need me to come and get you, I’ll come and get you." He then checks the car for menstrual supplies and calls the girl’s mother to ask if there are any pads stored inside. When they find one, he thanks his wife and hands it over, saying, "Teamwork makes the dream work."

The healthy conversation clearly displays the open relationship between the father and daughter, and research shows how this kind of connection is not only comforting but also protective. A Penn State study found that emotionally close relationships with fathers are directly linked to higher self-esteem and lower rates of depression in adolescent girls. The researchers also observed that these bonds often become stronger during early to middle adolescence, particularly when fathers continue to engage in emotionally attuned and supportive ways. Fathers who are present and accepting during vulnerable moments help reinforce a teen's sense of emotional safety and confidence in navigating change.

The casual, warm, and reassuring conversation touched many viewers, and many admired the father for providing a safe place for his daughter. @mariamfoh wrote, "I never saw this before and he was so open about it and not even grossed out, wow." @hiroko80 said, "This is so healthy. He’s comfortable and she’s comfortable. That’s absolutely how it should be." @maryguthrie417 added, "What a wonderful relationship between you and your daughter! School nurse here. Reminder, she can always go to the school nurse for supplies." @brittanyrcoates commented, "This healed something inside me. The fact that she’s so comfortable and that it’s literally like a normal conversation (as it always should have been), and the fact that you thanked your wife! Wishing y’all ALL the best."

Another user, @_duxnet, chimed in, "I love that she’s comfortable enough to just speak very freely about something natural like that. What I’m seeing there is some great parenting. You guys have both done a great job." @lambybinaya opined, "My girls learning that the period KNOWS when you’re wearing all white! I don’t know how, but it DOES!" @1kumo_0 shared her story, "I'm so glad that she's comfortable sharing that with her dad. I didn't have a dad growing up, and even then, it was still really uncomfortable to talk about it with my mother cause she was not the greatest person." @bennikki_tipton noted, "I hope my husband is like this with my daughter. She’s only 10 right now, though."

You can follow Steven Swanson (@scubaykorea) on Instagram for more family content.