20 Good Vs. Bad Dads

“My dad brought me a cheese plate one day after I’d been fucked-up by a migraine that lasted two weeks. I remember feeling so weak and sad about the future — at around 17-years-old — and he walked in with that fucking cheese plate. He kissed the top of my head, told me he was sorry I’d had such a rough time, settled me into my bed, and left me to rest. He moved across the country from me a couple months ago, and I don’t think I’ll ever be okay with it.”

—u/kittenpettingfool

“I would have given anything for a dad like this.”

—u/rumblebumblecrumble

“My first year of college was my first year ever away from home. My dad was battling all kinds of health issues that left him hospitalized quite a bit, but he always managed to call me a few times a week.

I was taking a ‘Calculus for the Bio Sciences’ course, and I was absolutely floored by that class. It was right around the end of the semester, and I had a huge test to prepare for — I was terrified and had a massive panic attack. I texted my dad and the message was incoherent, as my shaking hands and autocorrect formed their own sentence. My dad was texting me all kinds of positive things and telling me I could do it if I put my mind to it. So, I spent the afternoon and evening buried in my book and notes — and at around 11:30 p.m., I heard a knock at my door.

My mom and dad were standing there (they lived about three hours away) with Whataburger, a cup of my favorite coffee, and a card that said, ‘Do not open me until your test is complete.’ I finished my test days later and managed to get a B — I opened the letter, and my mom and dad wrote, ‘We knew you would pass’ with a $100 gift card to Chili’s (my favorite place). Rest in peace, dad — you had an undying faith in me and it meant the world to me.

A good dad can make a huge difference.”

—u/BeyondXpression