A dad’s hilariously cute doctor visit with his son went viral for all the right reasons.
World, meet Debias.
Photo courtesy of Antwon Lee.
He's a little guy from Georgia currently making the internet swoon.
Debias and his dad, Antwon Lee, have been best buds since Debias was born this past August.
Photo courtesy of Antwon Lee.
Sometimes dads need to put being "best buds" on the back burner, though, and put on their parenting caps instead.
Like last month, when it was time for Debias to get his vaccinations.
Photo courtesy of Antwon Lee.
A video of Antwon and Debias at the doctor's office — filled with lots of laughs, tears, and hugs — has gone viral. And it's no wonder why.
"We're going to get these shots; I want you to look at me now," Antwon reassures his son in the video, giving Debias an encouraging pep talk. "You're gonna be good."
The video captures a candid, vulnerable moment between a father and son: "I know you're gonna cry," Antwon tells him. "But it's OK to cry. It'll be OK. It's OK to cry."
The heartwarming video turns to mostly laughs at about the 1:20 mark, though, when the actual injections begin. "Man, I know, man!" Antwon says, hugging a shrieking Debias. "Are you videotaping this?" the medical professional says, laughing. "I hope you are."
Antwon posted the private moment to Facebook after the doctor's visit. But a friend, recognizing how great the video truly was, encouraged him to change the settings on Facebook so the public could see it.
The tender moment took off, amassing nearly 15 million views as of Nov. 2. "Good Morning America" featured the video on its Facebook page as well, garnering Antwon and Debias lots of positive attention.
"I didn’t expect it to blow up like this, to be honest with you," Antwon explains. "I didn’t even know [my girlfriend] was videoing it.”
The response to the video has been overwhelming and amazing, Antwon says, especially from fathers.
Strangers — many of them fathers themselves — have reached out to him, telling him how encouraging it was to see a vulnerable dad and his emotional son experiencing the tears that come with those early doctor visits together.
The comments section of the video was filled with love for the two of them, with some users praising Antwon's ability to be an emotionally supportive dad when his son needed it most. It's refreshing for many users, it seems, to see a dad tell his son it's OK to cry.
Photo courtesy of Antwon Lee.
“It feels peaceful," Antwon, a first-time dad, says of fatherhood. "It’s been beautiful. I got me a beautiful, peaceful baby."
And even though the world now knows Debias as a tearful baby in a doctor's office, ironically, crying is a rarity around the house, Antwon notes. "He don't cry unless he wants his ball," the dad says with a laugh.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.