Teen son pens 'appreciation note' for single dad on his birthday: 'Ugly cries ensued...'

Being a single parent means carrying the weight of every task, decision, and setback alone, making every meal, managing every schedule, and answering every late-night call without anyone to share the load. It’s constant, unrelenting work that rarely gets acknowledged, and there’s no time to slow down. But sometimes, your children do something that makes up for all the struggles and challenges. Reddit user u/ChackoMone shared one such moment in a post, writing, "Single Dad just turned 46 this weekend and this was my birthday card from my two teens, written by my 16-year-old. Ugly cries ensued."

He shared an image of the handwritten note from his teenage son, Elijah, co-signed by his younger sibling, Lorelei. It read: "Happy 46th, Dad. You are the best dad in the entire world. You're funny, smart, good-looking, and kind. You do what's best for us, and I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate it! You buy things for us, cook for us, and show up for us. You're everything a kid could want in a dad, and we look up to you. We love you so much, Happy Birthday! Love, Elijah & Lorelei."

The simple yet profound words carried the kind of weight that comes from years of care and responsibility. This moment resonates even more when considering the broader challenges single parents often face. A March 2024 study published in the Journal of Urban Health examined the academic, financial, and health challenges faced by students with single parents. Surveying over 2,100 students, including 142 single parents and 119 married/cohabiting parents, the study found that single parents were significantly more likely to carry debt and experience food and housing insecurity.

Users were touched by the teenagers' heartfelt gesture towards their father and showed their admiration in the comments. u/newerreso5 wrote, "This is the kind of thing you keep forever. You’re obviously doing something right, proud dad moment for sure." u/Whiskybabyyy added, "That’s beautiful, proof you’re doing something right. Teen love hits different when it’s genuine like that." u/hilariouspj commented, "A good-looking 46-year-old dad! Is this a humble brag? I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you. Well done and congrats!" u/dynamic_gecko noted, "Wow. Teen daughters that are this emotionally expressive to their dads? I feel like that's an amazing blessing and shows how beautiful a family you have. Happy belated birthday!" u/TheOtherJeff chimed in, "That’s gold right there. I would bawl my eyes out and keep this forever."

Others recalled their own experiences. u/Justalittleoutside9 shared, "One year, my daughter put a Superman logo and a cape on a jar, and wrote about 60 different notes about why she thinks I'm her hero. It was 8 years ago, and I look at it all the time. Today, you are my hero because you do what makes you happy." u/knitmeablanket shared a more somber perspective, writing, "Cherish it man. I have all my notes from my daughter before she decided she didn't want me in her life anymore. It's been hard, but the notes remind me of the good times. Happy birthday."