The dad opened up about his struggle to connect with his son
Blogger Trent Mentor, who goes by the name AfroDaddy online, has two sons: Liam, 3, and Eli, 2.
He shared a photo of himself with Eli on Facebook last week, along with a candid caption about their father-son relationship.
The South African dad explained that the two year old boy is “totally his mother’s child” – and he found their immediate connection “intense and beautiful”.
He said:
“I honestly found their immediate and intense connection beautiful, but even more honestly… it made me jealous.
“It is quite a thing to be a dad who can’t comfort his child, who is constantly told ‘No, I go to Mommy,’ who never seems to have a real, relational moment with his own son.
“I know, I know. It’s silly and childish, but the jealousy was real and disheartening.”
Eli began to warm up to his dad over the last few months – and one night, he even left his mum to go cuddle up to his dad instead.
Trent said:
“And then last night, while he was asleep on his mother’s chest (the only place he has always found comfort for the last two years), he got up and, still asleep, cuddled into me.
“This child, who would cry when I so much as looked his way, came to me for his comfort and calm.
“Not going to lie…I got a little teary eyed.
“Is there a lesson here? Yeah – being a dad is hard, but every bit of emotional and physically energy that you use can be repaid to you in an instant.
“So maybe you are a parent going through what I have been going through. Keep going. Keep pushing. It will be worth it.”
And the post clearly struck a chord with other social media users, with many parents sharing their own similar tales in the comments.
One person said:
“It is so normal. Mum is whom they know at the start.
“You are such a wonderful dad, he’ll soon learn there is just as much comfort with you than with his lovely mum.”
Another added:
“Can totally relate. But in the opposite way.
“Felt intense jealousy when my girl started choosing dad over me. It’s lame but I felt it.”
Featured image Facebook/AfroDaddy.
