Raising a child takes a village, actually it takes the population of the world. We're all in the creation of a human together but we rarely take part. And even in adulthood people need help for survival from those that are not blood. Sometimes all anyone needs is a hug to let them know they aren't alone in the world. That can make all the difference. Some people are just born parents, not just to their own children but all others and they have know idea of the difference they make to others.
Redditor u/GreenChorizo wanted to know who has benefited from the kindness of parents that are not their own by asking.... What's the nicest thing someone else's parents did for you?
The View.
My mother and father in law showed up to my dad's viewing after he died since my wife (my best friend at the time) couldn't be there. I had not expected to see them and I was blown away that they'd come. Hynjia
As their Son.
My best friend's parents basically took me in as their son, I don't have a bad relationship with my parents or anything but when I lived with my dad during the summer I basically never left their house. They took me everywhere with them. I still consider them my adoptive family and see them every week since I moved back to my hometown. alltgethings1776
Refill.
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My girlfriend's Dad refilled my lunch account with money without me even saying anything about it. A swell guy he is. AtticusNari
Tears.
The first time I visited my bf's country his parents cried on the airport while dropping me off and later told me they cried on the car for the whole one hour drive back home. japzilian_de
'Happy Birthday'
One year my dad was in hospital recovering from a heart attack and I didn't really celebrate my birthday because we were all visiting, helping my mum and generally worrying about him. No big deal, didn't matter to me at all.
The next weekend I went to stay with a friend from uni and crashed at her parents' house. At dinner time they brought out a cake with candles and sang 'Happy Birthday' because she'd told them about everything that was going on. I thought it must be someone else's birthday at first! So kind of them and I've never forgotten it. charlie1701
anonymous.....
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When my mother's mental illness was at her worst, my then-bf's mom learned that we had no heat (but electric was okay), and she bought multiple electric space heaters for us.
Later, the mother of my sister's best friend (at least, I strongly suspect it was her, but it was technically anonymous . . . whoever it was though, was definitely a parent) paid for my mother to go to a psychiatric hospital for a week.
Overall, so many parents and teachers in my town pitched in to make sure my sister and I were okay when our single mother's mental health went off the walls. There was the mom who dropped by to check on us every evening when we were home alone for a week when my mom was in said psychiatric hospital; another who brought us food. I'm sure I don't even know all the acts of kindness people did and I'm tearing up just thinking about it. sazed_sassypants
Bye Dad.
I am transgender. When I was 19, I got my top surgery and my unaccepting (at the time) father verbally berated me and manipulated me into thinking that because I went through our insurance, I screwed the family over (he basically told me that insurance works like a credit card and that I used up all the money the family had and no one in the family could use our insurance for the rest of the year thanks to me).
I couldn't handle the verbal abuse, and my family already treated me like garbage, so I decided to live in my car until I could live on my own, but my friends mom (who is a nurse) discovered this, and she offered to bring me in to their home and took care of me while I recovered. She changed my bandages and asked lots of questions so she could learn about my experience transitioning. On the day I moved there, the whole family stayed up late watching bad horror movies and they invited me to join. It was the first time I ever felt part of a family.
On Thanksgiving they even had me eat with them and asked my opinion about a name to give the new family puppy. She even offered to house me longer than I had intended , but I was ready to be on my own. I have always held her in the highest regard. The friend I stayed with is still very dear to my heart, even if we have become a little distant. fayekingdrag
Med School Future.
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Good friend's dad who coached us back in the day in football, was on the head committee at my high school and he fought singlehandedly for me not to get kicked out my senior year, when I got a DUI. Kind of one of those who you know type of situations, but some people told me he was the only reason I got to stay. I feel like it definitely would have thrown my life path off a bit. I'm in medical school now. catfishjimmy39
Teeth.
The dentist mom of a friend identified a dental problem i had upon meeting me once and hooked me up with a cream that helped within a week. The-Tewby
Shoe Help.
Only thing I could think of on the fly was they bought me the steel toe boots I needed for my new job. My first payday was a two weeks away, my payday from my old job was keeping the lights on and food for the family, and I had to start work in two days. I told my buddy my problem, and asked if he had an extra pair laying around.
He said he didn't but he's check with his dad. They called me the next morning and told me they'd go to the store and buy me a pair. I got the cheapest pair they had but it got me started and I was able to pay them back and get me really good pair later. But at the time it certainly was a selfless gesture from two wonderful people. sbashe5
Best Dad Ever.
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After a long term GF and I broke up, her dad would still call me up whenever he was in town and take me out for food because he missed finding new restaurants with me and wanted to make sure I was getting out of my apartment and my head.
I don't miss my ex, but I do miss her dad. i_draw_boats
Escape.
The parents of my best friend let me live with them for a month to help me escape from my abusive mother. I was 14. I didn't tell her but the police did. vankerina
Next Sunday.
Gf's mom helped pay my rent twice never asked her too let her know she didn't have to her reply? "She loves you. your family to us. I would do this for her I'm gonna do it for you" plan on getting engaged next Sunday. tolandxiv
Good people.
My dad died of cirrhosis when I was 17. He went into the hospital and stayed there for 3 weeks before he passed. In that time, my girlfriend's parents immediately offered me their home as my own. The fed me 3 meals/day. Made sure I had clean clothes. More importantly, they were there for me mentally. We had long talks. They legitimately cared about me and I'm so grateful for that. That was over 20 years ago and I still think about them. Good people. Sirnando138
In Grief.
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They came to my dad's funeral. I wasn't expecting them to be there, but the whole damn family showed up. It meant so much to me, that they were there. QueenMoogle
forever grateful.....
My parents thought going to the movies were a waste of money. The only way I can watch them is on cable, many months after. So my aunt found out about that and took my sister and I, along with her own kids to watch awesome movies like the Lord of the Rings trilogy and many more fantasy and scifi films. It sounds so simple but it was a pretty big deal for a kid. I'm forever grateful. rootingfordaenerys
My first love's mom bought me a car. I've always felt guilty about it. I don't deserve good people to do good thing like that for me... That car made it possible for me to do so many things. I probably wouldn't be where I am today without her generosity. Outrageous_Claims
My Fabulous Future.
My future wife's parents treat me as one of their own. They are some of the nicest people I've ever known. They completely accept me and don't judge me. I can safely say they are the parents that I wish I had. Reddit
Include Everyone.
My best friend had divorced parents who struggle financially and an abusive step dad. My parents made it a point to always include her in our vacations, and trips. Always let her spend the night or come to dinner with us whenever we wanted. She was basically my sister. During the summer she'd spend 2-3 weeks just chillin' with us.
Her dad had another family in Mexico and her mom was broke but worked a lot and always told her she was a burden. She's been my best friend for 10 years now. I'm really proud of my parents for including her in everything we did with no question. It was like "of course she's coming, if her mother's ok with it" <3. Admirable-Cat
Stay With Me.
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Let me sleep in their basement, fed me warm meals, and let me shower at their house for weeks while I was kicked out of my house at 18 in the middle of a particularly cold winter.. All against the wishes of my parents who they were friends with. My second family showed up to help when my own family would not. Got so much love for them for that. I felt as though I had lost absolutely everything at that point in my life. They stayed by me. Whodamamuh
For many childhood memories are overrun by living nightmares.
Yes, children are resilient, but that doesn't mean that the things we see as babes don't follow us forever.
The horrors of the world are no stranger to the young.
Redditor -2sweetcaramel- wanted to see who was willing to share about the worst things we've seen as kids, so they asked:
"What’s the creepiest thing you saw as a kid?"
Serious Danger
"Me and my best friend would explore the drainage tunnels under the Vegas area where we grew up. These were miles long and it was always really cool down there so it was a good way to escape the heat of our scorching hot summers. We went into this one that goes under the Fiesta casino and found a camp with a bunch of homeless people."
"Mind you we are like 11 years old lol. And we just kept going like it was nothing. It wasn’t scary then but when I look back at it we could have been in some serious danger. Our parents had no idea we did this or where we were and we had no cellphones. We could have been kidnapped and never have been found."
oofboof2020
Waiting for Food
"I was at a portillos once when I was 12 and I was waiting with my little brother at a booth while my parents got our food. This guy was standing with his tray kind of watching me then after a couple of minutes he started to walk over really fast not breaking eye contact with me."
"He was 2 feet from the table and my dad came out of nowhere and scared the s**t out of him. He looked so surprised and just said he wanted to see if I’d get scared or not. He left his tray full of food near the door and left. My folks reported him but we never went to that location again since we found a better one closer to home."
nowhereboy1964
Captain Hobo to the Rescue
"When I was a pretty young teen, my friends and I were horsing around in San Francisco and started hanging out to smoke with some homeless guys. Another homeless dude came up and began aggressively trying to shake us down for anything (money, smokes, a ride, drugs- all of it) and wouldn’t take no for an answer."
"We got in over our heads and could tell this guy was now riling the other 2 guys up and they were acting like they wanted to jump us. Some grandfather-looking old homeless man appeared out of nowhere and yelled at us to get the f**k out of here- nice kids like us don’t belong down here at this hour!!"
"Captain Hobo saved our lives that night. My parents sincerely thought we were at a mall all day lol."
FartAttack911
Survival
tsunami GIF
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"I was 7 and survived the 2004 tsunami in Thailand. Witnessed the wave rise way above the already massive palm trees (approx. 40ft?) and my family and I watched/heard the wave crash into the ground from a rooftop."
faithfulpoo
These Tsunami stories are just tragic.
On the Sand
Scared The Launch GIF by CTV
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"We were a group of kids who went to swim in a local lake. And there was a dead body on the beach with their hands raised and their legs bent unnaturally that local police just took out of the same lake. I've never put my foot in these waters again."
oyloff
Be Clever
"I was walking to school and I was about 5 or 6 years old and some guy pulled up beside me in his car and asked if I would get in. He also offered me sweets to do so. I said no. The creepy bit was when he calmly said ‘clever boy’ to me, then drove off. I’ve never even told my parents or anyone else about this as it would most likely freak them out."
OstneyPiz
Bad Jokes
"Dad's side of the family pranked me by burying a fake body on our back property and had me dig it up to find valuables. Was only allowed to use a lantern for light. They stuffed old clothes with chicken bones. Sheetrock mud where the head was... Random fake jewelry as the treasures... I was like maybe 10 or 11.. I remember digging up the boot first and started gagging because it became real at that point."
Alegan239
YOU
Who Are You Reaction GIF by MOODMAN
Giphy
"Woke up to find my little brother staring at me in the dark, asking, Are you really you?"
PrettyLola2004
Siblings can really be a bunch of creepers.
No one should talk to others in the dark though.
Not all pet owners have the same relationship with their pets.
While anyone who decides to become a pet owner, or pet parent as some say, love their pets equally, some never ever let them leave their side.
Taking their pet with them to work, running errands, even on vacations.
Many pet parents even allow their pets to share their bed with them when going to sleep.
For others though, this is where a line is finally drawn.
Redditor Piggythelavasurfer was curious to hear whether pet owners allowed their pets to share their bed with them, as well as the reasons why they do/don't, leading them to ask:
"Do you let your pet sleep in your bed? Why/why not?"
The Tiny Issue Of Water...
"Absolutely not."
"I have fish."- Senior-Meal3649
Everyone Gets Lonely Eventually...
"I adopted an eleven year old cat the day before Halloween."
"She has mostly lived in my closet since I got her, and she hasn’t been too interested in coming out."
"Last night, she came out of my closet and jumped up on my bed, and crawled under my covers and curled up by my feet to sleep."
"I was so happy!"- YellowBeastJeep
The Comforting Reminder That You're Not Alone...
"I recently lost my Greyhound but I used to let him sleep on my bed with me."
"The company was nice and he was no trouble to have on my bed."- HoodedMenace3
Hungry Cookie GIF by De Graafschap Dierenartsen
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What Do You Mean Allow?
"I have no choice."
"She is a cat, cats do whatever they want."- Small_cat1412
"He lets me sleep in my bed."- Poorly-Drawn-Beagle
Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
"I carry my old boy upstairs to bed every night."- worst_in_show
Hug GIF by The BarkPost
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Who Needs An Alarm Clock?
"I let my two cats sleep with me."
"They're so full of love and just want cuddles all the time."
"And so do I."
"We've all developed a lil routine."
"Get to bed, oldest sleeps on my feet to keep them warm, youngest lies in my arm while I lie on my side (she the little spoon), then when I snooze my alarm for work in the morning the youngest paws at my face and meeps loudly to wake me up."- GhostofaFlea_
Whose Bed Is It Anyway?
"Yes."
"They're also kind enough to let me squeeze into whatever space they've left for me."
"Although I do get a few dirty looks off them."- Therealkaylor
"I found this tiny kitten screaming her head off under a car."
"Would not come out."
"Got some food and some water in dishes."
"I stood by the tire so she couldn't see my feet."
"She got curious about the food and water and started gobbling it down."
"I thought she would bolt when I squatted down."
"She was too busy eating."
"I grabbed her by the nape of the neck and all four legs went straight out and she tried to scratch me to death."
"I got her in the door and tossed her toward the couch."
"She ricocheted off the couch as if she was a ping pong off a table and I lost sight of her."
"I put out food and water and a sandbox and did not see that kitten for three days."
"On the third day, I came home and she was on my bed pillow."
"I thought she would bolt when I came near, but she didn't."
"I wanted to sleep so I tried to scoot her little butt off my pillow."
"She would not go."
"I put my head down to sleep and that is the way it was from then on."
"She ran the roost."- Logical_Cherry_7588
sleepy kitten GIF
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Sleeping Is A Prerequisite...
"No, he's a cat and he cannot keep still during the night."
"He walks across the headboard, opens the closet doors, jumps into the windows and rustles the blinds, etc."
"If he would sleep he could stay, but alas, he's a ramblin' man."- Spong_Durnflungle
Saying No Just Isn't An Option...
"'Let'."
"Lol."
"It's a cat's world and I'm happy to be on her good side."- milaren
Felines Only!
"The cat does, the dog doesn't and the horse certainly does not either."- Xcrowzz
Angry Tom And Jerry GIF by Boomerang Official
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Is That My Hair On That Pillow?
"My dog is perfect."
"She comes up, cuddles til we start to fall asleep, then gets down to sleep on her bed so she doesn't get too hot."
"Jumps back up in the early morning for wake up cuddles."
"The hair everywhere is the only downside but she is so cozy, what can you do."- HoodieWinchester
It is easy to understand how some people are able to fall asleep more easily knowing their friend and protector is there, in bed, with them.
Though we can't blame others who don't want to run the risk of being scratched or bitten in the middle of the night either...