Once A Week This Dad And His Three Sons Used To Visit DQ As A Tradition, But Now He’s There Alone
One of the hardest and most rewarding things about parenting must be sending your child off to college. Hard because it’s time to accept that they are fully grown up, responsible adults now, and they don’t need you anymore (theoretically at least). Rewarding because you have done a great job raising a great kid who is now ready to step out alone into the world and make something of themselves.
This heartfelt post by proud dad Bud perfectly captures the bittersweet moments of seeing your children fly the coop, as that precious and deep bond necessarily loosens a little, to allow them to stand on their own two feet.
Bud and his boys had a cherished weekly tradition of hitting up the local Dairy Queen for some ice cream after dinner. A solid bit of bonding time between a father and his sons – something that they all loved doing together.
As the boys grew and gradually headed off to college, the final picture shows Bud alone at their table. As proud as he is to see his sons grow into responsible and successful young men, he still feels a pang of sadness that things will never be the same again and those precious moments will now be few and far between.
It goes by so quickly, doesn’t it?
Image credits: BrooksBarber
Image credits: BrooksBarber
Brooks, one of Bud’s sons, would later upload his dad’s post onto his Twitter page along with the caption “Why did my dad have to go this hard on Insta and why am I crying in Nashville right now?”
He also gave a short update to the over 1 million people who liked and shared the tweet, assuring them that the tradition is far from over. “To give everyone some peace of mind, my dad and I have an incredible relationship and yes my little brothers and I will be heading back to DQ with pops soon.”
Here’s how people reacted to the short yet heartfelt little tale
I guess the moral of the story here is to cherish every moment of raising your kids – although the days can be long and you can have your ups and downs, ultimately you will miss them when they are gone! (Also kids – go visit your damn parents!)
Yeah, when I saw the title I was like "please be a story about them going away to live their lives and not a story about a mass shooting where he lost all of them!". Phew.
Load More Replies...Create as many of these memories as possible! I just lost my only brother 6 months ago and my dad 2 yrs ago. Although close, we never really had traditions.
I would pay money to be able to sit with him at Dairy Queen and just be able to talk to him, have some quality time, no phones or anything, just each other for company.
I can relate... My mom and I had "our thing" too... We used to go and get froyo every week since I was little and now, I have a family of my own and my kids. I have my own traditions with my kids now. It's bittersweet for sure! To this dad.... Your boys will NEVER forget the memories that you have built over the years... It's going to be a story that they will tell their own families someday and maybe start their own traditions like I did. You have set forth a chain reaction of love and cherished moments that will hopefully keep going....
FROYO!!!!! When it was rare, in the 70s, mom & I would go regularly, too...
Load More Replies...Are you not allowed to see your child once they starts college in the US? Sounds like you're all sending them away forever...
They are often too far away (my issue): the distance between Warsaw & Copenhagen is less than LA and SF in CA (yes, 2 neighbouring cities are 800+ miles away, in the same state, and no train). Since we all have to work far more hours and days than our European counterparts (for less buying power, worse healthcare, no pensions, and no vacations), we often don't have the time. They often stay away (studies have shown this), and rarely come back. -Dr. M, retired prof
Load More Replies...I recall spending such time with my children (although few photographs remain). This photo was taken by my ex around 6 months before she left us. I raised them to adulthood alone (never remarried), and both are now at University, a junior and a senior, respectively. We usually went to coffeehouses on weekend evenings. I miss them awfully, and daily. Yet, I am very proud that they are successful on their own (OK, I help a little...). -Dr M, retired prof jsf-003-5d...f6e269.jpg
Do not work that overtime in order to be able to buy your kids the latest "Oh-I-want-that-so bad" thing, or worse, the things you want for yourself but do not actually need. DO STUFF TOGETHER! You can never ever make up for time you did not spend together with your children when they were still children - and they grow up in a heartbeat and a half. And there is another side of this too. None of is will make it out of this life alive, and we also do not know how long we will last. Make sure your children have solid memories.
Really don’t understand the downvotes. Monika,everything you said is absolutely true. Everything I remember are memories of trips,laughs,talks,beeing together,etc.,not material stuff. Probably teenagers downvoted 😁😬
Load More Replies...and yet your parents still decided to have children.........................lucky you
Load More Replies...Yeah, when I saw the title I was like "please be a story about them going away to live their lives and not a story about a mass shooting where he lost all of them!". Phew.
Load More Replies...Create as many of these memories as possible! I just lost my only brother 6 months ago and my dad 2 yrs ago. Although close, we never really had traditions.
I would pay money to be able to sit with him at Dairy Queen and just be able to talk to him, have some quality time, no phones or anything, just each other for company.
I can relate... My mom and I had "our thing" too... We used to go and get froyo every week since I was little and now, I have a family of my own and my kids. I have my own traditions with my kids now. It's bittersweet for sure! To this dad.... Your boys will NEVER forget the memories that you have built over the years... It's going to be a story that they will tell their own families someday and maybe start their own traditions like I did. You have set forth a chain reaction of love and cherished moments that will hopefully keep going....
FROYO!!!!! When it was rare, in the 70s, mom & I would go regularly, too...
Load More Replies...Are you not allowed to see your child once they starts college in the US? Sounds like you're all sending them away forever...
They are often too far away (my issue): the distance between Warsaw & Copenhagen is less than LA and SF in CA (yes, 2 neighbouring cities are 800+ miles away, in the same state, and no train). Since we all have to work far more hours and days than our European counterparts (for less buying power, worse healthcare, no pensions, and no vacations), we often don't have the time. They often stay away (studies have shown this), and rarely come back. -Dr. M, retired prof
Load More Replies...I recall spending such time with my children (although few photographs remain). This photo was taken by my ex around 6 months before she left us. I raised them to adulthood alone (never remarried), and both are now at University, a junior and a senior, respectively. We usually went to coffeehouses on weekend evenings. I miss them awfully, and daily. Yet, I am very proud that they are successful on their own (OK, I help a little...). -Dr M, retired prof jsf-003-5d...f6e269.jpg
Do not work that overtime in order to be able to buy your kids the latest "Oh-I-want-that-so bad" thing, or worse, the things you want for yourself but do not actually need. DO STUFF TOGETHER! You can never ever make up for time you did not spend together with your children when they were still children - and they grow up in a heartbeat and a half. And there is another side of this too. None of is will make it out of this life alive, and we also do not know how long we will last. Make sure your children have solid memories.
Really don’t understand the downvotes. Monika,everything you said is absolutely true. Everything I remember are memories of trips,laughs,talks,beeing together,etc.,not material stuff. Probably teenagers downvoted 😁😬
Load More Replies...and yet your parents still decided to have children.........................lucky you
Load More Replies...
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