No one will ever be able to replace your parent. These are the people who created you, who brought you into this world, and who will love you unconditionally. These are the people you inherited your genes, likes, and dislikes from. You are chemically and socially compatible with each other. So what would you do if you couldn’t see one of your parents for years on end?
This would be a tough situation for anyone, and it can be especially hard on young children. They look to their parents for guidance and support. They look up to their parents as role models, and they try their best to be like them. Being cut off from a parent is tough, no matter what the circumstances are.
One little boy was missing his dad more than anyone. Brian Kelly is just a little kid, but he has already had to deal with the hardship of being separated from his father. Brian’s dad is in the Air Force, and he has been deployed to Syria. The boy and his mom stayed behind, and they both miss their soldier dearly.
“When Dan [Brian’s dad] gets back, Brian’s going to cry and run to him with open arms,” the boy’s mom told Happiest. But until then, the boy has to cope with his dad being away.
Brian is dealing with the situation quite well, and he has used his creativity to find ways to make up for the time he is missing with his biological dad. He is fortunate to have warm, friendly neighbors, and he has turned to them for help in his hour of need.
Molly and Dean Cravens are the ideal neighbors. They are nice, they keep their yard clean, and they don’t cause a fuss. One day Dean was working in the yard with his hedge trimmers. Suddenly the doorbell rang, and the man saw Brian standing on the porch.
He sheepishly asked if he could help with the yard work, since that is what he used to do with his dad. The neighbor happily agreed, and he welcomed the little boy into his home.
Now Brian shows up to the neighbor’s house every day to do “dad stuff.” He helps to clean up the yard, and he is always ready to hand Dean a tool. This bonding time with his neighbor has helped Brian immensely in his struggle of missing his own dad.
The two get a lot done, but they don’t just stick to chores. There are plenty of other activities Brian liked to do with his dad before he was deployed. Brian and Dean enjoy their time in the sun, whether they are golfing, playing basketball, or just enjoying the blue skies.
These two are actually a perfect fit for each other. Dean has three daughters of his own, but no son. He loves getting the chance to do “dad activities” with a boy, and it warms his heart to be able to be there for Brian while he is dealing with all this. The friendship couldn’t have come at a better time.
Molly recently posted about the friendship. She shared some heartwarming words about the situation, and her post has been retweeted thousands of times. “This is our little neighbor,” she wrote. “His dad is deployed in Syria and every day he comes to the door asking to work with our dad. Appreciate today.”
This is our little neighbor. His dad is deployed in Syria and everyday he comes to the door asking to work with our dad. Appreciate today💓 pic.twitter.com/RdAHwh2Thm
— Molly Cravens (@themollycravens) June 18, 2017
Brian’s mom knows that the situation is only temporary, but she is so grateful for the time her neighbors have taken to spend with her son. She is extremely glad to have support when part of her household is away.
Deployment can be difficult for families, and there are lots of children who have to face time away from their parents while they are growing up. I hope they all have such wonderful neighbors or family friends to look to in their hours of need.
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