12 Stories That Prove Our Parents Aren’t Superheroes — But Close Enough


Our parents worked hard, shed tears, and made many sacrifices to raise us the best they could. While they may not have the physical superpowers like the characters in comic books, their deep generosity, limitless love, and constant care make them true superheroes in real life. Today, we’re sharing stories of some of the most emotional gestures our parents made to keep us safe and happy.

Story 1:
My father never really liked my spouse. He always thought I deserved someone better. On our wedding day, he looked worried and kept asking me, “Are you sure this is what you want? Are you sure he’s the right one for you?” I answered, “One day, you’ll see his good side too!” He just nodded.

Last week, my dad suffered a stroke. When I told my husband, who was at work preparing for an important meeting, he immediately canceled the meeting and rushed to be by my side, ensuring that my family and I had all the support we needed.

Later, I went to my parents’ house to pick up some of my dad’s things for the hospital. As I opened his drawer, I was surprised to find many pictures of my husband alongside photos of our children. I know how much my dad treasured photos and only kept those he truly liked close to him. This showed me that over time, my dad had grown not only to tolerate but to love my husband. I’m happy to say that Dad’s initial feelings were wrong after all.

Story 2:
My mom was a widowed immigrant who raised six children all on her own. She worked incredibly hard to take on both the traditional roles of a mother and a father, even when people told her she should remarry. She always put us, her children, first. That meant working long hours on the second shift, missing most of our school events, and giving us complete freedom to explore our interests and turn them into passions.

Now she’s retired, and all we do is take care of her and fund her trips back to her home country, Laos. © Someradkid / Reddit.

Story 3:
My parents weren’t perfect, but they did a lot of things right. One of the most remarkable things was how they always supported my brother and me in the things we loved, even if they didn’t understand or enjoy them. They didn’t like skateboarding, but they spent hundreds of dollars over the years to make sure my brother could enjoy his passion. They even helped me get a drum kit and let my band practice in our basement, and they drove us to all of our gigs.

For illustrative purpose only (Freepik)

They wanted me to become a lawyer, but they were still supportive even when I chose to become a line cook. This made a huge impact because it taught me that I have the freedom to make my own choices in life. Nothing is set in stone for me. I can do whatever I want, and my parents will always be there to cheer me on. © mgraunk/Reddit

Story 4:
When my dad left my mom for another woman, I decided I never wanted to speak to him again. But my mom sat us down and said, “Even though your father wasn’t a good husband, don’t let this ruin your relationship with him because he is, and always will be, a great father.”

I can’t imagine how hard that must have been for her to say. I give her all the credit for the wonderful relationship I still have with my dad. © gogu***6/Reddit

Story 5:
My dad worked seven days a week, twelve hours a day, at two different hospitals for most of my childhood. He would actually get sick whenever he took a vacation because he wasn’t used to being still, so he called it “motionless sickness.” But despite his busy schedule, he still got up hours early every morning to make breakfast for me and my sister before we went to school.

He believed deeply in hard work and set a strong example for me, all while staying young at heart. I don’t know how he did it all, but I love him so much for it. © TurtleFisher54 | Reddit

Story 6:
My mom always tells her friends that when it came to raising my brother and me, she “spoiled us with things but not with our attitude.” Both my parents worked incredibly hard to get where they are today and to provide for us, as they grew up with very little.

For illustrative purpose only (Freepik)

They constantly reminded us that hard work pays off and that we shouldn’t expect things to come easily. I never felt like they had a favorite child; they always treated us equally and taught us from a young age that no one is better than anyone else. They’ve been amazing parents, and I consider myself incredibly lucky. © echohotel_/Reddit

Story 7:
My husband’s parents are wonderful people, and he’s one of the best people I know because of how they raised him.

One of the most important lessons they taught him and his brother is the idea of “silent praise,” where they would be rewarded for doing good work and for understanding how their actions impacted the people around them. Both his parents are doctors, which I think influenced their approach.

They also encouraged their sons to always be kind and inclusive, something my husband’s grandmother used to call “princely behavior.” She would say that a prince should be kind to all his people, regardless of their social status. © SkynolongerBlue / Reddit

Story 8:
My mom was the only good parent I had. I say that because I had two stepfathers, and neither of them were much help. Even though we didn’t have much money, she was an incredible mother. There were times when we struggled to pay rent, and we sometimes went without water or electricity. But I never knew that was a problem because my mom never let me feel scared or worried. She always made sure I believed everything would be fine.

I grew up with wonderful memories and a happy childhood, even though we went without a lot of things. My mom’s positivity and determination shaped my entire outlook on life. © Unknown author/Reddit

Story 9:
No matter what, my parents have always had my back. They supported me when I wanted to go to art school, never made me feel bad about it, and encouraged me to follow my passion. When I went through a tough time, my mom even told me she’d sell her house if it meant taking care of me.

Luckily, she didn’t have to sell her house, but her love and support taught me the meaning of unconditional love and how important family is. © AmberFall92 | Reddit

Story 10:
My dad had a demanding job, so he couldn’t be home for dinner most nights. Instead, we had breakfast together as a family every morning before he took us to school.

It wasn’t until I became an adult, dealing with work stress and wanting to sleep in, that I realized how much of a sacrifice it was for him to get up early every morning just to spend time with us. That was our family time—with our dad.

Even when my siblings were older and didn’t have to get up early for school, they still had to wake up and join us for breakfast. Afterward, they could go back to bed. I really appreciate that now. © frnoss | Reddit

Story 11:
When I was young, we lived near a highway. One day, I asked my mom how far the highway went and where we’d end up if we just started driving. Instead of just telling me or showing me a map, she said, “Let’s find out.” So we got in the car and drove for hours until we were both tired. Then, she pulled out the map, and we figured out a route home along the shores of one of the Great Lakes.

For illustrative purpose only (Freepik)

This was in the 1980s, before GPS or cell phones, and I was about 10 years old. She let me help navigate us home. She could have just given me a simple answer or shown me the map, but she wanted me to experience it for myself. That’s just the kind of person she is—it’s pretty amazing. © Panic_Azimuth | Reddit

Story 12:
My parents moved to Canada with the sole goal of giving my brother and me a better life. They wanted us to have more opportunities, a better environment, and overall improvement in our lives. They left behind all their family and friends and came to Canada with nothing but the four of us.

In the first few years, they worked incredibly hard, earning very little and living in a small apartment in Toronto. Looking back, I’m amazed that they didn’t give up and return to their home country, where they had decent jobs and plenty of support.

I’m so glad they didn’t give up. Everything I have and everything I am today is thanks to my parents’ love and unwavering support. © Lenerz / Reddit

These stories show that, while parents may not always be perfect, their love and sacrifices make a lasting impact on our lives. They work hard to give us the best, and that makes them true heroes.


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