I’m always on the look out for Kick Arse Women doing Kick Arse Things of Kick Arsery™, and this week, it was a single mum who took the cake. Or the doughnut.
Whitney Kittrell has been raising her kids along for the last three years. She promised herself her two kids would never miss out. She’s been teaching her kids how to play catch, kill bugs, and live a great life.
But then her son came home from primary school with a flyer for "dads and doughnuts" day.
Awks.
With no "dad" on the scene, she sat him down and asked if he wanted to take grandpa instead. And he said, "no mum, I want you to go. You're my mum AND dad."
MY HEART. IT SQUEEZES, I TELL YOU.
So she thought, bugger it, I'm not letting a small thing like not being a "dad" get between me and a doughnut day.
So she dressed up as a bloke. And went to school.
"This morning I gathered up my best dad outfit, painted on some facial hair, and went to breakfast with my sweet son," she wrote.
"I was so embarrassed but I couldn't help but smile when he introduced me to his little friends saying 'this is my mum... she's my dad too so I brought her!'"
Never before has a fake moustache and beard brought so much joy.
The mum of two said she just wants her kids to know they're loved and, judging by her son's response, she's nailing it.
"When I went to leave he ran after me and hugged me tight around my neck and whispered 'mum... I know that you'll always be there and do anything for me. Thank you. I love you.' He kissed my cheek and ran off. I hope he remembers this day cause I'll never forget it or his sweet words."
STOP. MY HEART. IT WILL EXPLODE.
Kittrell's story has already collected more than 224,000 reactions, been shared nearly 113,000 times and had the prestigious honor of being awarded my KAWDKATOKA award on the Mamamia Out Loud podcast this week:
Clearly, it struck a chord with many.
"I am a 57-year-old man who never knew my dad," one man commented.
"He died before my Mum was sure she was expecting me. I had 7 older brothers and sisters. I can assure you, your son will always remember what you did for him. The older he gets, the more he will appreciate it. Be proud of yourself."
Beautiful. I'm definitely not crying right now. There's something in my eye.
For more kick-arse women doing kick-arse things of kick-arsery, subscribe to the Mamamia Out Loud podcast in itunes or the Mamamia podcast app. It's a little kick-arsery in your life every week.
Top Comments
Wouldn't you think schools would use some common sense and stop torturing children this way. My kids get so upset every grandparents day at our school because they don't have any. Making it 'special persons day' would surely make it easier for some families. Even then some kids don't have anybody so why do it at all? There are enough school events relatives can come to anyway that don't cause kids without visitors to stand out so much, like concerts and sports days etc..
You are so right! I love the 'special persons day' idea :)
My kids' schools had days like these when their Dad (we're divorced) couldn't go. I asked if I could go instead but was told no. They suggested a grandfather or uncle figure, but one was dead, one incapable of driving hundreds of kilometres for an evening, and the others lived thousands of kms away These days/nights put a huge stress on single parent families, and I can only imagine how hard it is for kids who have lost a parent permanently (death). It's really wrong. It is even worse that I was able to go to mother-daughter events but not mother-son events, as they only had father-son events. I'm sure fathers find it hard too on these occasions. Modern families come in all shapes and sizes and it's time that kindy and school staff were allowed to grow up. (Because most of the time it's not the teachers making these rules - it's those above them.)