Girl whose dad left her wasn't going to the father-daughter dance — then her grandad stepped up

The breakdown of a marriage can significantly impact a child's mental health, especially during their formative years. At this critical juncture, children need support from loved ones to help them cope with the painful reality of a parent's absence, whether it’s their mother or father. A young girl named Ellie has been fortunate to find this support in her loving grandfather. After her mom, Lindsey Windsey (@singlemomsquared on TikTok), filed for divorce from her "abusive ex," Ellie found a father figure in her granddad. The elderly gentleman won the hearts of millions on social media when he stepped up to take Ellie to a father-daughter dance event and made the experience extra special with his thoughtful attention to detail.

In a widely shared video, the cheerful school-going girl is seen proudly showing off her beautiful pink and blue dress. Viewers are initially puzzled about whom she is presenting her sparkling gown to, as the footage, filmed inside the family home, cuts to a screenshot of a text message exchange. The message reveals the thoughtful granddad asking Windsey about Ellie’s outfit for the Father-Daughter dance on Friday. “What is Ellie wearing to the Father-Daughter dance on Friday night?” he asked.

Windsey seemed surprised by her dad’s question, simply responding, “I didn’t know she was going?” Ellie’s granddad quickly clarified that he would be the man of the hour. “Well sure, granddad is bringing her,” he replied. The video then shows Ellie striking playful poses in front of her grandfather, who is standing in the kitchen, proudly showing off her dress.

The elderly gentleman gave a deep bow to the young girl before presenting her with a matching corsage that complemented his tie, which featured the colors on her outfit. “That’s what ladies and girls wear to special dances,” he explained as he pinned it to her dress. While Ellie was drawn to the pink, cute corsage, Windsey pointed out to her, “It matches your dress and shoes.” This statement prompted the young girl to show off her shoes proudly.

The 25-second clip is winning hearts online for aptly portraying the sweet bond between the granddad and his granddaughter. “Her father left us, but another man stepped in,” the text overlay on the video read. It has garnered over three million views and thousands of comments so far. @parkersmom shared, “My dad left when I was little, and only now that I’m older I realize how much it hurt my mom to see me miss out.”

“From someone who didn’t have a dad but had a ‘Pop,’ she will treasure that man,” @vlmorgan6795 praised. @kileymur0416 remarked, “My dad was supposed to take my sister and me one year to our father-daughter dance. We sat on the steps forever, it seemed. He never came. But my grandpa already had his suit out just in case he had to step in.” Others lauded Ellie’s grandfather for filling in the shoes of her dad. In response to comments praising his bow before the little girl, Windsey wrote, “He told me it’s his honor to be the man who shows her how a princess is treated.”

You can follow Lindsey Windsey (@singlemomsquared) on TikTok for more wholesome and lifestyle content.