Dating as a single parent isn't easy. Just ask Cassandra Reschar.
"I have full custody of my daughter and very little 'me' time," she wrote on How He Asked. There are over 13 million parents in the U.S. just like her.
Then she met Grant Tribbett online, and the two hit it off big-time over the next couple of weeks, constantly trading messages and eventually phone calls.
Their relationship blossomed from there, and one day, six months or so into dating, Tribbett asked Reschar and her 5-year-old daughter, Adrianna, to come on a walk through the woods with him.
In the middle of the forest, on a small wooden footbridge, Tribbett dropped to one knee and asked Reschar to spend the rest of her life with him.
The proposal was a big surprise, but Tribbett had a few more tricks up his sleeve:
"As soon as he got down on one knee, my friend, who is a professional photographer (Mandi Gilliland), came out of hiding and captured one of the best moments of my life!" Reschar wrote.
[rebelmouse-image 19531894 dam="1" original_size="735x490" caption="All photos by Mandi Gilliland Photography, used with permission." expand=1]All photos by Mandi Gilliland Photography, used with permission.
Kids aren't usually invited along on romantic walks in the woods, but Tribbett wanted Adrianna to be there for an incredibly touching reason.
After getting the "Yes!" and sliding an engagement ring onto Reschar's finger, he turned to Adrianna and got back down on one knee.
"Adrianna, can I be your daddy?" he said.
"To promise to love and protect you for the rest of your life?"
He even offered her a small heart necklace.
As Reschar burst into happy tears, Adrianna could only muster a meek "thank you" at first.
"I finally get a Daddy, Mommy!" Adrianna finally yelled, according to her mom.
"I finally get a Daddy..."
The family's story is capturing hearts all across the internet. "He knew that my daughter was my world and that this wasn’t just a commitment between us but a commitment to our family," Reschar told the Huffington Post.
The photos are touching, but they also prove an important point: Most research has shown that parental makeup plays little to no role in a child's long-term well-being.
Meaning: There's no right or wrong way to make a family. What's important is that kids feel love and commitment from their parents, whether they be exes, gay, straight, step, or anything else.
Kudos to the happy couple and Adrianna for bringing this important message to the world.