Parenting is no walk in the park. It’s a journey that can be filled with frustration, exhaustion and tears. But also joy, laughter and love. While there are thousands of articles about how to parent “right”, there isn’t one universal handbook. And let's be honest: no parent is perfect. But we have to admit that some do come pretty darn close.
Among the ups and downs of raising little humans, there are parents who just seem to conduct themselves with oodles of patience and grace. We scoured the internet to find some of the most wholesome parenting moments ever shared. Some of them might just melt your heart. Bored Panda also spoke to parenting expert Crystal Haitsma to get some tips on how to raise happy and healthy children.
#1 "Smile On Her Face Was Extraordinary"
Image credits: ShaneJacks
Becoming a parent can be daunting. You are in charge of shaping a little person into an adult. And there’ll be plenty of times you’ll question whether you’re doing it right. Many people will assure you there is no such thing as a “perfect” parent. Crystal Haitsma is a certified life coach for parents, and agreed to share some of her wisdom with us.
Haitsma says striving for parenting perfection will actually not make you a better parent. “Perfectionism and shame are two sides of the same coin. Not only is it unattainable, deep down it’s driven from the fear and insecurity of not feeling like I am doing enough, and not wanting others to find out,” she said during our chat, adding that there’s no such thing as a healthy amount of perfectionism. “Healthy means accepting my human-ness, mistakes, failures, messy, big emotions and all. The more we can do this, the happier we will be, and our kids will be too.”
“The more that we dwell in our ‘not-enough-ness’, the more we’ll lose our cool at our kids, drop into fear or coercion tactics, or show up in ways that feel icky to us. Dropping the shame is the biggest key to healthy parenting.”
#2 After Being Divorced For 25+ Years, My Parents Reconnected, Moved To Texas, And Bought A Farm. Today They Are Getting Married Again. This Is Their Wedding Portrait
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While there’s no such thing as a “perfect” parent, Haitsma says there are certain things you can do to increase your chances of being a great one. She says too often, parents focus on their children’s academic success and forget to nurture their emotional intelligence. Sha also advises parents to drop their expectations.
“Expectations lead to frustration (for us), and it’s easy to get caught up on where we feel like they ‘should’ be developmentally and emotionally, instead of loving them where they are at,” she told Bored Panda. “If we can love the child we have, in the phase of life that they are in, we can better support them in emotional growth.”
#3 My Dad Surprised My Corgi-Obsessed Mom With A Corgi Hike. Airbnb Experience In Maine! Surprised Her To Celebrate The End Of Her Cancer Radiation Treatment
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Other experts agree that it’s very important to make sure your kids know they are loved - no matter what. “Unconditional love for our children develops their sense of security and self-worth,” reads Parenting Hub. “It provides a sanctuary where children feel accepted, valued and cherished for who they are. This in turn fosters resilience and emotional well-being.”
#4 My Mom Just Sent Me This With My Dad
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Part of loving means believing in and trusting your child. Haitsma says a big part of her job involves teaching her clients to have a deeper belief in themselves. “As they borrow my belief in them, they change little by little… until their belief in themselves is rock solid.” We can do the exact same thing for our kids, she revealed. “As we believe in them, and trust them, they learn to believe in and trust themselves.”
#5 My Dad Is Afraid To Fly, So When I Was 5 Years Old, I Made Him A Doll To Hold On The Plane. Mom Just Sent Me This Picture. He Is Packed To Come Visit Me. The Doll Is 43 Years Old
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#6 So Wholesome
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Unconditional love doesn’t mean letting your children do whatever they want. Whenever they want. Even if it pains you to see them cry, or unhappy, it is important to set boundaries. Easier said than done when you have a tantrum on your hands and just want five minutes of peace and quiet. To yourself. Experts believe that setting limits is an act of love. And when you fail, which you very well might, just remember that tomorrow is another day to try. And try again.
We asked Haitsma what “wholesome parenting” means to her. “Accepting my 'whole' self, and understanding and meeting my needs. Not only my physical needs, like getting a good night's rest, and eating foods that help fuel me and my mind… but also emotional needs: connection, rest, support from others,” she replied.
#7 He Is 94. She Is 87. Their Love Story Has Been Continuous For 68 Years. My Parents
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#8 Which One Is Her?
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#9 With Much Love, I Dedicate My Master's Degree To My Parents. Their Sacrifices To Come To This Country To Give Us A Better Life Were Worth It
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Psychologists have found that children need clear rules and consistent consequences. Even if they might not show it. When kids are allowed to run amok and live by their own rules, they struggle to meet their parents’ expectations. Pleasing their parents makes them feel competent and valued. So boundaries actually build their self-esteem and confidence.
“Boundaries help keep us safe and secure, which are keys to a healthy relationship,” Haitsma told Bored Panda. But said parents should not go overboard with boundaries. “Don’t focus on little things of no importance, like elbows on the table, or getting homework done as soon as you get home from school.”
“We don’t need to ‘over-boundary’ our kids’ lives and home environment,” she added. “Never use coercion, fear, force or shame… all good boundaries will feel like love. ‘Firm boundaries, loosely held’ is my motto.”
#10 In 2001, My Parents Bet Me That If I Did Not Drink, Smoke, Or Do Substances By 21, They Would Give Me $1500. Here I Am On My 21st Birthday, Holding The Contract I Signed When I Was 8
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#11 My Friend’s Boyfriend Was Not Happy About His Kindergarten Picture. His Parents Still Have It Framed In Their House 20 Years Later
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#12 These Parents
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Children grow up fast. One minute you’re changing your baby’s diaper. The next thing you know, you’re sending them off to college. Or watching them get married. Parents have a limited amount of time to spend with their kids. And the way you do it makes a big difference. Between work, chores, meals, and other daily adulting tasks, it’s not always easy to carve out time to just connect. But research shows that quality trumps quantity when it comes to the time we spend with our children.
#13 My Dad Is Proud Of Himself
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#14 My Parents Are Recent Empty Nesters. I Get These Pictures Every Wednesday
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#15 I Asked My Bar Guest What She Was Writing. It Turns Out She Has 3 Daughters, And She Writes 5 Lines A Day To Each Of Them. These Will Be Gifts When They Get Married One Day. Mom Of The Year
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Quality time isn’t sitting on the sofa in silence next to your children, and watching a movie. It’s engaging in meaningful conversation, doing things together, playing or having fun. The Nielsen “Tops of 2023: TV” report revealed that on average, the typical adult spends more than 10 hours each day with media. About half of that is dedicated to TV content.
A separate global survey found that most people sleep for around seven or more hours on a typical night. Then there’s work, commuting (for some), cooking and cleaning. We’ll let you do the math on what's left for quality time with family. Nobody can survive without sleep. So we wouldn't recommend cutting down in that area. But if you're craving a closer connection with your kids, it might just be time to turn off the TV...
#16 Of Course, Dad Will Tease Their Daughter
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#17 Every Day My Parents Play Mario Kart 64 To See Who Makes A Cup Of Tea. They've Done This Religiously Since 2001
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#18 Not Puppies And Kittens, But My Parents Asleep On The Couch Holding Hands Is Still Pretty Cute
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As many of the wholesome parents on this list prove, some of the best moments are spontaneous. Others are planned. But all show a level of involvement by mom or dad. And in return, a lot of appreciation. There’s a book called “The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting”. It was written by psychologist, Dr. Laurence Steinberg, after he went through 75 years worth of research to find the top tips for raising happy and healthy kids.
"Being an involved parent takes time and is hard work, and it often means rethinking and rearranging your priorities. It frequently means sacrificing what you want to do for what your child needs to do. Be there mentally as well as physically," said Steinberg in an interview with WebMD.
#19 I'm A Disabled College Student Who Just Graduated. I Can't Decide If My Parents Are Hilarious Or Horrible Human Beings
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#20 Here's A Picture Of My Parents Right After They Bought Our Awesome House In New Hampshire. Circa 1985
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#21 I Bet Teachers Were Happy
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Steinberg says that a parent can never be too loving. "It is simply not possible to spoil a child with love," he writes. "What we often think of as the product of spoiling a child is never the result of showing a child too much love. It is usually the consequence of giving a child things in place of love -- things like leniency, lowered expectations, or material possessions."
#22 My Dad (Who Has Always Hated Cats) Sends Me Pictures Of My Cat Every Time She Hangs Out With Him
My dad has hated cats all of my life and swore up and down that he would never let another cat in this house after our last one passed away. Now, he calls my cat "Putty-tat," and tells me how sweet she is and how much he likes her. Every time he sees her, he goes "Hey Puds!" and starts petting her.
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#23 I Lost My Dad At Walmart And Ended Up Finding Him In The Garden Section Watering Plants
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#24 Parents Used To Tell My Only Brother And I That We Used To Have Another Brother Who Turned Into A Mushroom From Not Taking A Bath. Even Added Him To The Family Albums
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“If I could tell parents anything, it would be that the more they can support themselves in their true needs, and take care of their own inner selves in healthy and healing ways, the better their relationship with the kids (and everyone else in life) will become,” added Haitsma.
“This not only leads to a healthy and happy life for us, but fosters emotional intelligence, safety and security in our kids. Gandhi said ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ My take is ‘Be the change you want to see in your home, your family and your kids’.”
#25 Parents Waiting For The Bus On The Last Day Of School
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#26 My Parents Kindly Supported My Peak Edgelord Phase
I dressed like this every other day, but my parents decided it would be fun to take me to a photo shoot and totally go for the look together!
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#27 My Dad Was Admitted To The Hospital Right Before Christmas. We Didn't Know If He Would Make It Home, Especially Not For Christmas. This Is My Parents Slow Dancing On Christmas Day
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Despite your best efforts, you might not always win a gold medal in the parenting olympics. But experts say it's important to not be too hard on yourself. And to trust and forgive yourself. This won’t only help you stay sane, it will also go a long way in teaching your kids that not everyone is perfect. And that we should be gentle on ourselves and others.
#28 Parents Hiding The Name Origin
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#29 My Boyfriend Moved Out Of His Parents' House Last Year, And He's Been Replaced Already
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#30 So Sad Yet Wholesome
My father has been hospitalized with complications from treatment for esophageal cancer since Friday. My mother is in the middle of chemotherapy for gallbladder cancer and hasn't been able to visit him because the hospital is too dangerous for her. Today his doctor let him meet her in the courtyard.
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#31 So My Parents Took A Beach Vacation With Their Dog And Sent Me This Picture
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#32 This Seems Extremely Appropriate
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#33 The Growth Chart Door At My Parent's House. 30 Years, 5 Kids, And 17 Grandkids Later And Still Going
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#34 She's So Proud Of Herself At The End
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#35 I Caught My Parents In A Candid Moment. This Was The First Vacation I Took Them On From My First Salary. They Were Very Happy
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#36 My Apartment Lost Power For Two Days. I Complained To My Dad, And Minutes Later, I Got A Text: "They're On The Case"
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#37 When My Parents Are Dog-Sitting, They Send Me A Daily "Proof Of Life" Photo With That Day's Newspaper In It
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#38 I Just Moved Away From Home For College And My Parents Hid 100 Ducks In My Dorm
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#39 This Is What True Love Looks Like. My Mom Taking A Picture Of My Dad Acting Like He’s Stuck In The Dryer
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#40 This Is The Cutest Thing Ever
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#41 As A Dad Raised By An Awesome Mom Costume Maker, I Decided To Keep Up The Tradition With My Boys
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#42 When I Was 6 Years Old, My Mom Picked Me Up From School With Her Hair Looking Different, And I Freaked Out. 20 Years Later, She Still Gives Me A Heads-Up To Mentally Prepare Me
It’s such a small thing, but it made me smile this morning that she still does this.
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#43 They Were Probably Walking Around Showing Everyone Their Daughter
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#44 Parents Dragged Me Out In A Blizzard To Play Pokemon GO. My Dad Is 59 Years Old And A Level 32. My Mom Is A Level 28 And Is 64 Years Old
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#45 This Is How My Mom Keeps Me Updated On What Is Going On With My Cousins
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#46 Yesterday Was My Gotcha Day (The Day I Met My Adopted Family), And My Parents Sent Me This Photo
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#47 "Seriously, You Can Literally Tell A 3-Year-Old Anything, And They'll Believe You"
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#48 I Found Out My Dad Dedicated His Thesis To Me
My dad is a pretty private man. He doesn't really know how to express his feelings, and I got that from him. We were close when I was a kid, but then I turned into a teenage girl, and I think he didn't know how to deal with that. It's gotten better now, but we still don't get along the way we used to.
Anyways, I'm on break today and was looking through the family bookshelf that no one ever looks at when I stumbled upon the thesis he wrote the year after I was born. Mind you, I barely even knew this document existed since my dad rarely talks about his past, so imagine my surprise when I found out we owned a copy of it.
And... wow. It kind of feels like a punch in the gut. To me, he was always the type of person to show affection through actions rather than words, e.g., teaching me how to ride a bike or going with me to the cinema. He never tells me upfront he's proud of me or that he loves me, and that's alright because I know anyway. But seeing him so openly mushy towards me (and my mom) on such an official document was so unexpected that I thought I had misread.
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#49 My Sister Covered Her Wall With One Direction Pictures, My Parents Got Bored, And Hilarity Ensued
My little sister has covered her wall in One Direction pictures and managed to convince my mom to help her print and put it all up. This is my mom's revenge.
When my sister was at work, my parents slowly replaced some pictures on her wall with pictures of themselves. For true authenticity, they would replicate the pictures with themselves in them.
The last picture was the first thing my sister noticed on her wall. It was next to her mirror, so about half an hour after she came home from work, she somehow spotted it and laughed because our mom's face was on her wall. She found the other ones shortly after and came running downstairs, crying with laughter to the point where she was drooling. It took my parents longer to put it all up compared to how long it took her to notice them.
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#50 Cool And Very Innovative
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#51 You All Enjoyed My Parents (In Their 60s, Living In Salem, MA) Being Total Weirdos Last Year, So Here's Their Ridiculousness So Far This Year
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#52 So Lovely That They Framed Every Cover
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#53 For My Mother's Birthday/Mother's Day, My Dad Always Picks Her Flowers, Bakes Her A Cake, And Wakes Her Up Singing While Bringing Her Breakfast In Bed
They are both in their 70s and have been married for almost 50 years.
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#54 "He's A Pediatrician, Which Makes This Even Better"
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#55 This Is Real Inner Child Healing
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#56 My Parents Are Celebrating Their 69th Wedding Anniversary
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#57 My Dad And His Morbid Sense Of Humor Make Their Way To The Family Reunion
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#58 This Is Exciting
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#59 My Parents Just Celebrated Their Anniversary. This Is What Love Looks Like 54 Years Later
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#60 Parents Live To Embarrass Their Kids
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#61 Parents Taking The Smallest Opportunity To Embarrass Their Children
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#62 5 Years Later, Now 28 Years Old, And Parents Still Making Me Feel Like A Kid. Thanks, Mom And Dad
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#63 60 Years Apart. Going Home From Service 1959 And Going Home From Chemo 2019
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#64 Found My Parents' 28-Year-Old Wedding Album. I Don’t Think Mine Would Ever Be Able To Top This. Literally No One Has Any Recollection Of This
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#65 26 Years Ago On This Day, My Parents Got Married. This Was Their Unconventional Wedding
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#66 This Is Beautiful
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#67 "I Refuse To Let Any Girl Within 10 M Of It"
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#68 Parents Took A Trip Around The US. My Dad Is A Child
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#69 My Sister Is Really Doing A+ At The Parenting Thing
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#70 My Parents Are On Something
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#71 Parents Sent Me A Selfie In The Mail
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#72 So Not Fair. Who Will Eat The Rest Of The Cake?
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#73 My Parents Took Away My Sister's Phone For The Week. They've Uploaded About 10 Of These To Her Facebook
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#74 This Lady Had Flown In From Out Of Town To Surprise Her Kid By Chasing Her Down The Street In Her Nightmare Situation Before Work. Best Open I Ever Had
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#75 I Don't Know Where My Mom Gets Any Of These Because I Don’t Live Here. I Just Come To Visit, And Decorations Like This Just Appears
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#76 The Worst Part Is That I Didn't Even See It. I Had To Get A Text From My Sister Saying "Did You See Dad's Tweet?"
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#77 This Is Nice
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#78 Meeting Their First And Only Grandchild. I Don't Think I’ve Ever Seen My Parents This Happy Before
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#79 Found At My Parents. Should I Laugh Or Cry?
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#80 My Parents Sent Me A Selfie After They Both Got A Haircut
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#81 Maybe It Will Grow Into It
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#82 I Got My Parents A Jellycat Peanut And Told Them To Take Pictures Of It On Their Vacation
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#83 So Sweet
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#84 My Parents Surprised Me For My Birthday By Turning My Childhood Bedroom Into A Sloth Sanctuary
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#85 I Caught My Parents Dancing During Our Beach Trip When They Thought We Were Napping. Still In Love After 33 Years
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#86 This One
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#87 My 81-Year-Old Dad Is Home Alone As Mom Is Away. He Sent This Cute Message - He’s So Proud Of Himself For Cooking
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#88 My Mom And I 18 Years Ago And Today
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#89 Presentation Is Everything
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#90 So My Mom And Dad Went On A Trip To The Museum And This Is The First Picture My Dad Sent Me
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#91 "She's Convinced It's All On The Verge Of Shattering"
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#92 That's So Cute
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#93 My Parents Surprised Me By Upcycling An Old Bench I Found At The Side Of The Road
I don't have a closeup picture of the before because it was a surprise and my parents didn't take one, but you can see it was pretty damaged. Maybe I will paint it back to blue because I kind of liked the color.
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#94 My Parents Just Handed Me This For Christmas
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