Dad melts hearts turning up to daughter's school Mother's Day event in dress

16 August 2023 , 12:29

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Not wanting his daughter to feel left out on Mother's Day, a single dad in Thailand turned up to a school event in a wig and dress (Image: Facebook)

A single dad's refusal to let his daughter miss out on a school Mother's Day event has tugged on heartstrings across the world.

Thailand dad Joe Lookphonbodee took it into his own hands to make sure his adopted teenage daughter Cream wasn't alone for the occasion on August 12, which is when the country marks the day. The dad donned a dress and wig for Mother's Day activities at Ban Noen Kroi School - where he also works as a teacher - in Kamphaeng Phet province.

Mr Lookphonbodee, 48, turned up in a black gingham dress and black hairpiece for the event. Sharing a clip from the day on TikTok, the sweet stunt was met with hundreds of comments from people moved by his parenting.

Sweet footage of Mr Lookphonbodee in the dress went viral on TikTok (tiktok.com/@joey_kp)

Daughter Cream paid tribute to her adoptive dad (tiktok.com/@joey_kp)

In the video, which has since racked up more than 384,000 views, Cream can be seen hugging her father and paying her respects to him. He posted the wholesome footage with the caption, "mom, I can be you". “When the school organizes Mother’s Day activities, I don’t want my child to have an inferiority complex,” he told Bangkok Biz News.

“I don't want my children to feel that Mother's Day each year, why doesn't a mother come to the event like everyone else? So decided to join the activity." He added: "Personally, I'm not ashamed because I love my child. And we do fun activities together as usual."

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Third grade student Cream, whose full name is Nong Cream, said: "This year's Mother's Day, I want to say I love my father. Thank you father for raising me and making me happy. This life doesn't feel like it lacks anything.” She added she thought her dad's outfit for the day was "beautiful" and "cute", failing to hide the grin on her face. Mr Lookphonbodee teaches PE and health education at his daughter's school, local media reports, with students affectionately referring to him as "Teacher Joe" or Mr. Pratya.

Susie Beever