Dad Drops Everything to Spend Time with 9-Year-Old Daughter, Finds Note from a Woman Who Watched Them

When a father took his daughter on one of their regular coffee dates, he had no idea what would happen next. Someone at a nearby table noticed them and left a heartwarming note that the dad shared with the world. 

They say we should always enjoy today because tomorrow is not guaranteed. Sadly, many people only realize this when it’s too late. We think we have lots of time to put our families first, but life has a way of changing in the blink of an eye.   

Making space for quality moments with loved ones during the day is essential, but very few people remember to prioritize it in the middle of their busy lives.

A father and daughter sit together at a table. | Source: Shutterstock

One dad encouraged fellow human beings to be more intentional with their kids, and his post quickly struck a chord with many — read the story to find out why! 

THE DAUGHTER’S SURPRISING QUESTION

David Rosenman of Rochester, Minnesota, enjoyed spending time with his daughter, and when they went to a local coffee shop in 2015, he thought it would be a day similar to most. 

The duo planned to occupy themselves with their respective activities. Rosenman would read his newspaper and check emails while his little girl worked on her crocheting.

However, Rosenman was caught off-guard when his daughter asked him a simple but convicting question. She said:

“Daddy, can you not read the paper or doodle or check email today? Can we just be together?” 

A little girl and her father sit together. | Source: Shutterstock

THEY BONDED ON A DEEPER LEVEL

The father instantly agreed to his daughter’s request and was delighted to be spending quality time with her without any distractions. They bonded over her yarn project, reflected on her birth, and assessed the other couples in their table’s vicinity. 

Rosenman added that he “melted a bit” while watching his little girl eat her sandwich because he was reminded of how much he loved her. 

THE DAD WISHED HE HAD GIVEN HER ATTENTION SOONER

The father was sad that his daughter needed to ask him for more attention, and he vowed to do better in the future. Before the duo left the coffee shop, they had another heartwarming encounter. 

While Rosenman paid for a takeaway, a stranger left a note with his daughter. She asked the little girl if Rosenman was her dad and left a few words on the table for him.   

THE TOUCHING NOTE FROM A STRANGER 

The stranger worked at a school where many girls have absent dads or no dads, and the display of love between Rosenman and his daughter caught her attention.  

In her note, she expressed: 

“Many daughters … have never in their lives had [their fathers] watch, listen, and devote 100% of [their] attention … for as long as you did on one Sunday morning.”

She continued: “You have no idea what a gift you are giving to all of the teachers who are responsible for educating her from now until she graduates.”

CHOOSE TO BE PRESENT TODAY 

Rosenman was stunned by the note and shared it with online community members. He encouraged people to “be present today — even for just a little while — for someone you love.”

He urged parents to give their kids attention before they needed to ask for it. He also hoped the encounter would show people that the world would be much better if everyone listened, observed, and loved more. 

Commenters react to a father’s heartfelt post about spending more time with loved ones. | Source: facebook.com/David Rosenman

ANOTHER FAMILY URGED PEOPLE TO VALUE LOVED ONES

Appreciating every moment with loved ones is something we can never do enough. Life is short, and we never know how much time we have left together—one couple from Oregon learned this the hard way.

J.R. Storment and Jessica Brandes had a great life with their twin boys, Wiley and Oliver. The family led a busy but happy life, and the couple adored their sons more than anything. However, work and other commitments took up a lot of their time.

THEY LOST THEIR SON SUDDENLY

In 2019, Storment, a successful businessman, received the call that no parent wants to get. His wife told him that their son died unexpectedly in his bed. 

The couple was utterly shattered and couldn’t believe their healthy boy was no longer with them. Wiley is believed to have passed away from Sudden Unexplained Death of Epilepsy (SUDEP). 

THEIR HEARTBREAKING MESSAGE FOR OTHER PARENTS

“Out of these ashes have come many new and restored connections. I hope from this tragedy you consider how you prioritize your own time,” expressed the heartbroken dad. 

Wiley’s passing gave Storment and Brandes a massive wake-up call. They warned others about the fragility of life and shared their son’s story to encourage parents to cherish every single moment with their kids.

Anomama