Single Mum Steps Up For Son's 'Dad Day' At Nursery So He Doesn't Feel Left Out | HuffPost Life

'My heart kinda sank.'

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Life editor at HuffPost UK

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A single mum who found out her son’s nursery was inviting fathers to come in for a “dad day”, stepped up to make sure her boy didn’t feel left out.

Whitney Kittrell, from the US, explained that her two children don’t see their dad, but she wanted her son to take part in the “dads and doughnuts” event.

When Kittrell became a single mum three years ago, she made a promise to herself that she would do anything to ensure her kids have a “normal life”.

“We have accomplished a lot,” she wrote on Facebook on 8 February.

“Trips alone, teaching my son how to play catch, killing bugs with minimal screaming and countless memories. But when my son came home with a paper saying that they were having ‘dads and doughnuts’ my heart kinda sank.”

Kittrell said she sat her son down to explain the situation and asked him whether he wanted to go with his grandpa.

He replied: “No. I want you to go. You’re my mum and dad”.

The mum continued: “So this morning I gathered up my best dad outfit, painted on some facial hair, and went to breakfast with my sweet son.

“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.’

“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.

“I hope he remembers this day cause I’ll never forget it or his sweet words.”

Kittrell shared a photo of her dressed up with her son on Facebook.

Kittrell’s post was shared more than 100,000 times within five days and had more than 13,000 comments, with many single parents able to relate.

“What a great mum you are,” one person wrote. “Such a strong positive role model and your son obviously knows that.”

Another person commented: “Just beautiful you should be very proud of yourself.”

Another single mum shared her own personal experience, writing: “This made me tear up. I am a single mum and sometimes think I am failing my kids.

“You’ve just showed me I am not and I can make the best of this.”

Before You Go

Celebrity Parents With The Most Children

Rod Stewart(01 of16)

Hot Rod has eight children, ranging in age from 52 down to four years old.Six months after the birth of his youngest son, Aiden, the singer also became a grandfather for the first time, when his daughter, Kimberly, gave birth to a daughter. (credit:Santiago Felipe via Getty Images)

Katie Price(02 of16)

Katie Price is as famous for her ever-growing brood as she is for her outlandish outfits and many, many reality TV appearances. The former glamour model gave birth to her eldest, Harvey, in 2002, and later welcomed two children with her ex-husband, Peter Andre, Junior and Princess Tiami. She also has a son, Jett, with ex-husband Kieran Hayler, and gave birth to their youngest daughter, Bunny, in 2015. Katie is adamant she's keen to have a sixth baby in the future. (credit:Neil Mockford/Alex Huckle via Getty Images)

Ronnie Wood(03 of16)

At the age of 68, Ronnie became a father of six when his wife gave birth to twins. (credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt(04 of16)

The former golden couple of Hollywood have six children, including three biological (Shiloh, and twins, Vivienne and Knox) and three adopted (Maddox, Zahara and Pax) kids. Angelina adopted Maddox and Zahara prior to her relationship with Brad, though he later became their legal father after they got together. (credit:Jason LaVeris via Getty Images)

Jermaine Jacksun(05 of16)

Jermaine Jacksun (as he's now known), has seven children, each more fabulously named than the last, culminating in his youngest being christened Jermajesty.How. Fabulous. (credit:Albert L. Ortega via Getty Images)

Kerry Katona(06 of16)

Kerry has five children.While her first two marriages each spawned two children, she also gave birth to a daughter by most recent husband George Kay, Dylan-George, in 2014. (credit:Alex Huckle via Getty Images)

Robert De Niro(07 of16)

In addition to his six children, the youngest of whom is four years old, the Oscar-winning actor is also a grandfather four times over. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)

Nadya Suleman(08 of16)

Let's just say it, media personality Nadya Suleman didn't earn the nickname 'Octomom' by keeping her family in the low numbers.In addition the octuplets that first put her in the spotlight, Nadya was already a mum to six children, all of whom she has revealed were conceived by IVF. (credit:Charles Norfleet via Getty Images)

Mel Gibson(09 of16)

Mel and his ex-wife Robyn welcomed six sons and one daughter during their 30-year marriage. (credit:Don Arnold via Getty Images)

Caitlyn Jenner(10 of16)

Decades before coming out as transgender, Caitlyn had two children with each of her first two wives, and later became a parent to two children with her most recent wife, Kris Jenner, Kendall and Kylie. Perhaps you've heard of them? She also still acts as a step-parent to Kris's four children, Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Rob. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)

Mike Tyson(11 of16)

Mike Tyson has fathered eight children throughout his lifetime, and also considers himself the father of his second wife, Monica Turner's eldest daughter from a previous relationship. (credit:Astrid Stawiarz via Getty Images)

Eddie Murphy(12 of16)

Eddie and his girlfriend of three years, Paige Butcher, announced in November 2015 that they were expecting a baby, her first child and his ninth. (credit:Kris Connor via Getty Images)

Bob Marley(13 of16)

Also at the higher-end of the spectrum is reggae singer Bob Marley, who fathered 12 children, the youngest of whom was just four years old at the time of his father's death in 1981. (credit:Everett Collection/REX Shutterstock)

Mia Farrow(14 of16)

During her lifetime, Mia has been a mother to an impressive 15 children, three of whom were with ex-husband André Previn and one with Woody Allen, though she suggested in 2013 that their son's father may actually be Frank Sinatra.The rest of her children were adopted from countries around the world. (credit:Taylor Hill via Getty Images)

Charlie Chaplin(15 of16)

Silent movie actor Charlie Chaplin's also had a large family, becoming father to 11 children across his lifetime. (credit:Glasshouse Images/REX Shutterstock)

Marlon Brando(16 of16)

However, no one beats Marlon Brando, who is said to have had 11 children, though some have suggested he had as many as 15.His son Christian previously remarked about his childhood: "The family kept changing shape, I'd sit down at the breakfast table and say, 'Who are you?'" (credit:Michel Dufour via Getty Images)

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