NEWSWEEK
A Southern California man has shared the heartwarming and unexpected note he recently received from his ex-partner’s son.
Known as u/Javawong on Reddit, the anonymous man shared the deeply moving handwritten note on the popular r/MadeMeSmile sub, where it has gained viral attention.
The note read: “I appreciate everything you have done for me and continue to do for me… I will always be grateful for you being so involved in my life and not just taking a back seat like you could have. I hope you are doing well. I hope you know how much love and appreciation I have for you. I am proud to call you my family.”
For Javawong, this was more than just a letter—it was a recognition of years spent together while he was married to the man’s mom.
The two were married for 12 years, and after their divorce nearly five years ago Javawong feared that he and his stepson, now 20 and attending college, might drift apart.
“I received the note in the mail just this past Friday,” Javawong told Newsweek. “I honestly thought it was a letter from his university asking for donations (he’s an athlete). I was very surprised to see that it was just a note telling me how he felt. I never expected a note like that from him.”
Blended families are far from unusual. According to data compiled by the Mast Center, in 2021, just over than 1 in 10 children were living in married or cohabiting stepfamilies. But despite this prevalence, blended families aren’t always easy, and step relationships can sometimes be difficult.
Knowing this, the man was even more touched that his stepson chose to reach out to him with such a heartwarming note.
“It felt really good to get that from him. Over the years, as I helped raise him, we got closer, but then his mom and I divorced. I figured he and I would drift apart, but we’ve only gotten closer since then,” he said.
“I was shocked and proud at the same time. All the work I put in left an impact on him in a positive way.”
The post featuring the letter resonated with many online, sparking hundreds of comments from people sharing their own stories of step-parenthood and blended family dynamics.
Many Redditors praised the poster for staying involved in his stepson’s life. User blanco895 said: “From one dad to another, cheers to having made a strong impact on that kid’s life.” Another, darkneo86, shared: “Currently splitting up with my stepdaughter’s mother. I can only hope I’ve made a similar impact. Good job, dad.”
“This is so sweet.” said user Main_Setting_4898 simply, adding: “You left a positive impression and that is so valuable.”
For Javawong, the letter offered a moment of quiet validation, a reminder that his role—though unconventional and sometimes unrecognized—was cherished.
“I shared the note on Reddit because it did just that—made me smile,” Javawong said. “I know there are a lot of blended families these days, so in a way, I wanted to share that being a stepparent is a tough role to step into, but it’s worth it. The reactions were amazing—so many different stories from stepchildren and stepparents. It was so nice to read through all of them.”
