Parents know when they get a call from their child’s school, something bad has usually happened. That was what went through Ben Sowards‘ head when he was told he needed to pick up his daughter from school. The concerned father instantly wondered whether his daughter had misbehaved at school that day or if she was ill. Thankfully none of those scenarios were what had transpired at school that day. However, he still needed to come right away.
When he got to the school, he was relieved to learn that his daughter was fine. She had, however, done something embarrassing in front of her entire kindergarten class and would have to go home right away. When her father saw why, his heart immediately broke.
An “Accident”
The six-year-old girl, Valerie, had accidentally wet her pants. She was extremely embarrassed and wanted desperately to go change her clothes. When her father saw how sad she looked, he knew he had to do something to cheer her up. The last thing any father wants to see is their child struggling at school in front of their peers.
Being the ‘Coolest Dad of the Year’, Ben went and grabbed a cup and walked over to the drinking fountain. He then splashed some water on the front of his pants to make it look like he too had wet himself. When his daughter saw this, she immediately smiled and the embarrassment faded from her face. It was then and there that her father knew everything was going to be OK.
My little sis had an accident today at kindergarten & this is how my dad left to pick her up so she wouldn't feel so sad/embarrassed 😂😂❤️ pic.twitter.com/veHMFO4QHr
— lucinnamon toast (@lucindreams) April 14, 2017
As they walked out of the school, he asked his daughter if he could borrow her backpack. He covered himself up with it, acting extremely embarrassed about what had happened. All eyes were on him as they left with no one noticing the shirt tied around the little girl’s waist.
This father is clearly someone who knows how to be a great dad. He and his wife are the parents of 11 children, seven biological children and four adopted children. With such a large family, he’s had some experience in dealing with embarrassed children. Therefore, he wanted to do whatever he could to make his daughter feel comfortable.
News Spread Fast
News of this father spread quickly on social media. His oldest daughter, Lucinda, shared this story and it was shared thousands of times. People loved hearing about a father doing something so nice for his daughter.
This southern Utah family is using this newfound attention to raise awareness of the benefits of fostering children. This family loved growing by giving four new children a place to call home. They believe that their family wasn’t complete until they adopted these four children. They want other parents to open up their homes to children in need.
— 🧇🥛 (@Jordannunez__) April 15, 2017
It’s clear that this a man who loves children and a family that is very close. It’s wonderful that he was willing to shoulder the embarrassment so his child would feel better about herself. All parents can learn an important lesson from this selfless man.
The next time your child feels embarrassed about something, use the opportunity to embarrass yourself. It will take the negative attention off of your child and place it on you. This act will show your child that he or she is not alone. Be sure to keep this true story in mind the next time your child feels sad or embarrassed.