Hurt by years of rejection, boy breaks down after mom's husband asks to adopt him

Many children who don't experience the perks of having a parent around while growing up lack a sense of belonging. Unlike their friends, the inability to turn to a caregiver in times of need makes the situation even more miserable. A teenager found himself in similar circumstances after he started missing his dad. His mom, Lisa Arana — who goes by @inkedupdame on TikTok — recently shared a heartwarming moment about her son's newfound love for her husband. The boy was told that he would soon be officially adopted by his stepfather, leaving him and millions on the internet, teary-eyed. An emotional video showed the partner breaking the news of the adoption to his stepson, lifting his spirits from the inside.

It all began when Arana’s husband decided to ask her son if he would like to be officially adopted. Although the adoption process would require the consent of the biological parents, the man chose to prioritize his stepson’s opinion first. Breaking away from stereotypical portrayals of blended families, the stepfather went out of his way to share the news that the child secretly longed to hear. "The moment my husband asked my son if he could adopt him," the text overlay read on the footage captured by the ring cam. 

“Can I ask you a question?” the stepdad was heard asking his stepson, who was busy on his computer. The stepson responded affirmatively and removed his headphones to listen to his stepfather standing at the far end of the kid’s room. “You know I love you like my son, right?” the stepdad said, seeking reassurance from the teenager. “Do you like that?” he asked, prompting his stepson to nod in agreement. Thereafter, the stepdad began discussing his plans for their relationship. “How would you feel if I adopted you?” asked the stepdad without mincing his words. In the 35-second video, the teenage boy was initially shocked upon hearing the news of his adoption and struggled to comprehend it. His mouth hung open as he passively listened to his stepdad’s offer, still focused on his computer.

After a moment of silence, he turned to his stepdad and immediately rushed into his arms. “Is it for real?” he kept asking until his stepfather gave him a warm hug and kissed his forehead. At that point, the stepson was at a loss for words, and all he could do was embrace his stepdad’s gesture. When the boy was asked if he liked the offer, he sniffled through his tears and confirmed it in his innocent voice. “My heart! I can’t stop crying! My son has been hurt, he’s been rejected. And, my husband came into his life and filled the holes in my son’s little broken heart, piece by piece!” Arana wrote in the description of the footage with around 17.1 million views.

Among the countless reactions it received, @atharfianra lauded the stepdad by saying: “The tattoos, the hard man vibe, the biggest heart and the teddy bear cuddles...you won the husband jackpot there.” “Stepdads mean the world. Mine adopted me when I was 5, and I got 37 years with him before he passed. He was my best friend, and I miss him every day. Thank you for being there for that boy,” @alishagilchrist1 remarked.

You can follow Lisa Arana (@inkedupdame) on TikTok for more lifestyle and parenting content.