Woman expresses gratitude for wholesome bond her late dad's girlfriend shares with her even today

Sometimes individuals find parental figures in the most unexpected people. These people go the extra mile for a child despite not being related by blood. Such a surprising bond can also be quite beautiful to witness. Lily Grace Pickard–who goes by @lilgpickard on TikTok–shares a beautiful bond with her late dad's girlfriend. Their bond grew even stronger after her dad passed 12 years ago. She shared glimpses of their bond through a TikTok post that is winning hearts on the internet.

"My dad died. I hope his girlfriend would still want to hang out with me," the text overlay on the first photo of Pickard with her dad read. The next slide featured Pickard with her late dad's girlfriend, Jane, at her prom six months after he died. Jane was also there to celebrate Pickard on her 18th birthday, two years after her dad died. Six months later, Lily finished her A levels and went to Barcelona with Jane. When the woman turned 20, Jane took her and her brother to New York. The slide featured a photo of the family in front of the Statue of Liberty. Jane even went as far as to organize Pickard's 21st birthday, five years after her dad's death.

The next slide featured Pickard's graduation photo eight years after her dad's death and Jane was still there with her. "Jane and I on holiday in Zurich 10 years after he died," the text overlay read. "Jane and I eating pizza in Boston, 12 years after he died," an image of the two women enjoying pizza slices read. "I am so lucky to have Jane," the post concluded. Pickard expressed through the caption, "She didn't have to be my stepmom, she chose to be." In an interview with Newsweek, Pickard talked about the close relationship she shares with her stepmom. "Jane is the maternal relationship I never really had. We were close when she was with my dad, but I was age 11 through 15, so an awkward age! After his death suddenly from a heart attack at 45, we became like two peas in a pod. She's my best friend, as well as my mum," she said.

"She moved me into university, I lived with her during the holidays, and she has supported me through some really difficult times with my mental health, including a battle with anorexia," she shared. Pickard even shares a kitten named Lennon with Jane, as per the outlet. Even after getting married and having a 7-year-old daughter, Jane still considers Pickard and her brother as her oldest children. "I moved away from our home city to live with my boyfriend, but we message every day and I see her a couple of times a month," she shared. "We are really, deeply bonded through the trauma of losing my dad. I think if I went back, my younger self would be so happy to have Jane still in our life."

People took to the comments to praise their special bond. @gonvlet wrote, "Jane isn't a stepmother. She is a mother who stepped up." @loverachna1 commented, "I have a Jane too. I am 44 now and my Jane is 82." @re_be_cc_ah remarked, "Jane gives the whole meaning to 'bonus mum.'" 

  You can follow Lily Pickard (@lilgpickard) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.