This is one great Father. Richard Johnson, a 21 year old father of a one year old girl, is a single parent but there’s more to it than that. He posted this touching post on the Life of Dad Facebook page. He says he’s clocked in over 1,000 hours on YouTube learning everything from braiding hair to painting nails. You know a parent’s work is never done but this Dad is putting in the time to raise a beautiful girl.

The outpouring support that Johnson received from the post prompted him to comment on the thread himself. The comment is available on the post above if you follow it through to the original post on Facebook but we’ve included it below.

“I honestly don’t know what to say. I’ve been reading everyone’s comments and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t became a tad bit emotional. As I sit here now writing to all of you, my heart wants to jump out of my chest and tears want to will their way to the surface. Thank you to each and every single one of you. You truly can’t understand how much everyone’s words mean to me. I am constantly criticizing myself on how I can be a better father and this was just the right medicine I needed.

When I got the message from Life of Dad stating they had uploaded my message I was more than eager to see it. Never in my wildest dreams would I suspect so many of you would see it. Let alone how many of you would comment on it.

Her mother is an amazing woman and I will have to ask the few people who had negative things to say about her to please refrain from doing so. No matter what she is the mother of my child and I only wish the absolute best for her. So long as she can be happy then that’s all that counts. It’s somethings I wish to instill in my daughter. Post-Partum depression is truly a tragic thing and I would not wish that upon my worst enemy.

I come from a family of divorce and was raise by a single mother. When my father left when I was 6 I didn’t know I wouldn’t see or hear from him again until I was 21. So being that I never had a father it was truly frightening to become one. Even more so when I was going to do it alone. I didn’t have time to be worried though because that beautiful little girl needed a parent who could be her rock and would love her to pieces. In my mind there was no other option.

The days have been rough and at times I wasn’t sure I could make it another day. I spent more then a few nights holding my little girl as she slept weeping because I wasn’t sure I was going to be a good enough father for her. One night in particular was the night she first crawled. She came to me and laid her tiny little hand on my cheek and stared into my eyes. I took it as “Come on Daddy, we have a lot to do.” So I told her no more crying for either of us and we were going to fight to be happy. We’ve kept true to that promise. A few days later I found Life of Dad.

From the very deepest depths of my heart and mind I want to thank each and everyone of you. If I could personally shake your hand, I’d probably just hug each of you. This will be something I will always remember and cherish for the rest of my life. I’ll be saving all of this. I can’t even begin explain how much this means. You’ve all really lifted up a guy who was just trying to be the best Father he could be. I’m indebted to each of you. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Persephone & Richard Johnson

P.S
For any single parents out there, if you ever feel like the load is to much or you’re just not good enough. Look into your amazing child’s eyes and just tell them you love them. You’d be amazed to see how much strength you have when someone else is counting on you and loving you more and more for what you’re doing. You’ll find strength where you thought you had none”