I drove up to my son’s new house early Saturday morning, looking forward to a day with my granddaughter, Trisha. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden hue over the quiet neighborhood. As I pulled up to the driveway, I saw Trisha waiting on the porch, and my heart leapt with joy. But as she came into full view, my joy turned to shock. My eight-year-old granddaughter was dressed in an outfit more suited for a teenager heading to a rave than a young child.
She wore a crop top, mini skirt, and chunky boots, with her hair dyed a bright, unnatural shade of pink. I could barely recognize the sweet girl I used to tuck into bed every night. My son’s new partner, Sonya, stood behind her, looking entirely unbothered.
“Good morning, Grandma!” Trisha chirped, running up to hug me.
“Morning, sweetheart,” I replied, my voice catching in my throat. “What are you wearing?”
Before Trisha could answer, Sonya stepped forward. “It’s the latest fashion, Janet. Kids express themselves through their clothing these days. You wouldn’t understand.”
The Rift in the Family
The loss of my daughter-in-law had been devastating for our family. My son, Mark, had been inconsolable for months. In his grief, he had asked me to move in with him and help take care of Trisha. We had formed a close-knit unit, helping each other heal. But then, Sonya appeared.
At first, I was hopeful. Mark deserved happiness, and if Sonya could provide that, I would support their relationship. But it quickly became apparent that she was not a good influence. She encouraged Mark to work less and party more, leaving Trisha in her care far too often.
When Mark decided to move in with Sonya, I was left in his house, relegated to seeing Trisha only on weekends. It felt as though my entire life had been upended by this woman who didn’t seem to care about the family she was disrupting.
A Day of Reflection
After the initial shock, I decided to go on with the day as planned. We went to the park, had lunch at her favorite restaurant, and visited the zoo. But throughout the day, I couldn’t shake the image of Trisha’s outfit and Sonya’s dismissive attitude.
Dad sparks online debate after cradling daughter’s head for 45 minutes so she could sleep during a flight
People are frequently seen debating something or other on the internet these days.
Given that it essentially brought millions of people together in one location and allowed them to freely express their emotions, it was unavoidable. But they were always going to spark a heated argument, regardless of how diametrically opposed they were.
Even while contentious images and videos are becoming commonplace on the internet, it doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile to check them out whenever they appear. Thus, when I saw a photo of a father and his dozing kid shot during a flight—one that, incidentally, has sparked a variety of comments—we had to share it.
The discussion started when Reddit user u/therra123 posted a wonderful photo of a father and daughter in the r/MadeMeSmile thread.
An image of a girl curled up on her aisle seat during a trip was submitted by the user. Her father had put his palm under her cheek, preventing her head from resting on the armrest, which is, I’m sure anyone who has used one, a quite harsh and coarse pillow.
“This man kept his hand in this position for 45 minutes so his daughter could sleep well,” says the Reddit caption that goes with the image.
We have to say at this point that, in our perspective, this appears to be no more than a father going about his business. Although the post was appropriately labeled “wholesome moments,” some Redditors disagreed.
Remarkably, the father’s activities drew criticism; some individuals wrote merely to point out that he could have done it more skillfully.
The widely shared post received approximately 60,000 likes and thousands of comments, with responses like these:
“It seems like… I believe there must be a better approach.
“Do you not have your towel?” said another. The most crucial item you can pack is a towel.
“Shows a distinct lack of creative problem solving,” said a third person. You claim that after 45 minutes, you were unable to come up with a workable answer. Hey!
A fourth person wrote, “Seriously. Fold up a sweatshirt, and presto! Instant-pillow. Here’s an absurd idea: request a blanket and pillow from a flight attendant.
Others, meanwhile, were more understanding of the father and his gesture. By coincidence, we also find ourselves in that category!
What about you, though? Was there anything improper, in your opinion, with the father using his kid as a makeshift pillow throughout this flight? Tell us in the comments below.
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