When my fiancé, Adrian, moved in with his 7-year-old daughter, Amila, I was excited to bond with her.
She was bright, kind—and oddly responsible. Every morning,
she’d wake up before anyone else and prepare full breakfasts: pancakes, eggs, fresh juice. She cleaned, tidied,
even pressed Adrian’s clothes. At first, I thought it was sweet… until I realized something was off.
One morning, I found her flipping pancakes, standing on a stool.
I gently asked why she was doing all this. Her response shattered me:
Daddy said if a woman doesn’t cook and clean, no one will love her.
I don’t want him to stop loving me.” My heart broke.
Adrian’s words, even if about his ex, had convinced this little girl she had to earn love.
That night, I confronted him. At first, he was stunned—but then remorseful.
“I didn’t know she overheard,” he said.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”“Intent doesn’t erase impact,”
I told him. “She’s a child. Let her be one.” The next morning, Adrian woke up early and made her breakfast.
“You never have to earn my love,” he told her. “It’s yours just because you’re you.”
Amila cried, clung to him—and for the first time in weeks, looked like a kid again.
That night, instead of setting an alarm, she asked for a bedtime story.Love should never be earned.
It should be unconditional—especially for a child.
